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Quah ELY, Chua KZY, Lua JK, Wan DWJ, Chong CS, Lim YX, Krishna L. A Systematic Review of Stakeholder Perspectives of Dignity and Assisted Dying. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 65:e123-e136. [PMID: 36244639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The debate on assisted dying and its components, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide has evolved with the emergence of the right to dignity and the wish to hasten death (WTHD). Whilst shaped by local legal and sociocultural considerations, appreciation of how patients, healthcare professionals and lawmakers relate notions of dignity to self-concepts of personhood and the desire for assisted dying will better inform and direct support of patients. METHODS Guided by the Systematic Evidence Based Approach, a systematic scoping review (SSR in SEBA) on perspectives of dignity, WTHD and personhood featured in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, Scopus databases and four key Palliative Care journals was conducted. The review hinged on the following questions: "what is the relationship between dignity and the wish to hasten death (WTHD) in the assisted dying debate?", "how is dignity conceptualised by patients with WTHD?" and "what are prevailing perspectives on the role of assisted dying in maintaining a dying patient's dignity?" RESULTS 6947 abstracts were identified, 663 full text articles reviewed, and 88 articles included. The four domains identified include 1) concepts of dignity through the lens of the Ring Theory of Personhood (RToP) including their various definitions and descriptions; 2) the relationship between dignity, WTHD and assisted dying with loss of dignity and autonomy foregrounded; 3) stakeholder perspectives for and against assisted dying including those of patient, healthcare provider and lawmaker; and 4) other dignity-conserving measures as alternatives to assisted dying. CONCLUSION Concepts of dignity constantly evolve throughout the patient's end of life journey. Understanding when and how these concepts of personhood change and trigger the fear of a loss of dignity or intractable suffering could direct timely, individualised and appropriate person-centred dignity conserving measures. We believe an RToP-based tool could fulfil this role and further study into the design of this tool is planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Li Ying Quah
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Keith Zi Yuan Chua
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jun Kiat Lua
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Darius Wei Jun Wan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chi Sum Chong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yun Xue Lim
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lalit Krishna
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (E.L.Y.Q, K.Z.Y.C, J.K.L., D.W.J.W., C.S.C., Y.X.L., L.K), National University of Singapore, Singapore; Division of Cancer Education (L.K), National Cancer Centre Singapore Singapore; Division of Supportive and Palliative Care (L.K), National Cancer Centre Singapore (L.K), Singapore; Palliative Care Institute Liverpool (L.K), Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Health Data Science (L.K), Liverpool; Duke-NUS Medical School (L.K), Singapore; Centre of Biomedical Ethics (L.K), Singapore; PalC (L.K), The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Dover Park Hospice, Singapore.
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Riley S, Sarbey B. The Unexamined Benefits of the Expansive Legalization of Medical Assistance-in-Dying. JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2022; 19:655-665. [PMID: 36156765 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-022-10211-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
If you slide far enough down the slippery slope envisioned by opponents of medical assistance-in-dying (MAiD), you eventually land in a ghastly society with industrialized euthanasia, rampant suicide, and devalued life. But what if the slippery slope leads us somewhere better? This paper explores the benefits of eliminating nearly all MAiD prohibitions and regulations. We anticipate three positive effects for public health: 1. Expanded access to those currently not qualified from MAiD by removing ineffective access criteria; 2. Harm reduction by making MAiD safer and by rerouting suicidal patients into alternate care; and 3. Improvements to the health system through lowered healthcare costs and increased patient activation in end-of-life care. Safeguards and prohibitions deny those who wish to die the ability to do so to prevent the potential danger of a few being subjected to an undesired early death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Riley
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 2050 Kenny Rd, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
| | - Ben Sarbey
- Duke University, 1364 Campus Dr., Durham, NC, 27705, USA
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