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EUTANASIA
CONF. DR. C. CURCA
1. Repere istorice
In 8.01.1988, JAMA publica un articol anonim ("It's Over, Debbie" vezi anexa 1-)
care a lansat discutiile privitor la E. La putine luni dupa aceea, probabil si ca rezultat al
publicarii unor cazuri dar si al dezbaterilor ce au urmat, Council on Ethical and Juridical
Affairs al American Medical Association, AMA devenita ulterior World Medical Association
WMA (asociatia medicala internationala ce coordoneaza toate colegiile medicilor din toata
lumea), si-a reconfirmat opozitia fata de E.
In 1991 o dezbatere a Parlamentului European asupra eutanasiei a stimulat discutiile in
intreaga Europa. Ele continua si astazi si vor continua inca.
In trecut termenul sugera o moarte usoara, naturala, neindusa de factori externi
(termenul a aparut pentru prima data intr-un text de Suetoniu referindu-se la Augustis Cezar.
Prima persoana care a pus problematica eutanasiei asa cum o stim astazi este F.
1
Bacon (1561-1626) care a promovat ideea ca medicul trebuie sa aiba cunostintele necesare
pentru a isi putea ajuta pacientii sa moara usor (euthansia exteriori, numita asa pentru a o
diferentia de moartea care se intampla atunci cand esti impacat cu ideea ei si cu tine insuti
that euthanasia, or sweet calm dying , procured by a due preparation of the soul (Bacon, pp
124-125, Beaty).
Prin urmare termenul nu insemna in acea perioada moarte indusa de medic ci usurarea
mortii naturale de catre medic.
Aceasta conceptie s-a pastrat pentru urmatoarele doua secole si jumatate, pana in
1870 cand notiunea a fost asociata de catre Samuel D. Williams cu moartea usoara,
nedureroasa, indusa de medic.
Eutanasia a fost utilizata pentru ambele notiuni pana in anii 1920, dupa care in uz a
ramas predominant definitia actuala (cea veche fiind inlocuita cu notiunea de euforie si apoi
de grija pentru modul in care o anumita persoana inceteaza din viata.
Sunt inca vii in mintea noastra aspre amintiri ale ideologiei naziste si a legitimizarii
eugeniei din perioada 1939-1943 (Actiunea T4) prin care au fost omorati peste 70.000 oameni
(existente fara valoare vitala ale unor persoane cu probleme psihice, degenerati, diformi,
etc.) vezi Anexa 2Alte asocieri alte eutanasiei au fost realizate cu: (1) utilizarea sedativelor pentru a se
asigura o moarte usoara (South Carolina Medical Association); (2) moartea asistata sau
moartea asistata de medic; (3) intreruperea suportului artificial pentru persoane care nu ar mai
fi putut supravietui fara acestea.
E revine in discutie atat in SUA prin Actul Mortii cu Demnitate (Death with Dignity
Act) trecut de legislativul din Oregon in 1994, Actul Alegerii compasionate (Compassionate
Choices Act) respins in California in 2006, Legea Ingrijirii futile (Futile Care Law) trecut in
Texas in 1999.
F.Bacon:Obiectulmediciniiesterefacereasanatatiisicalmareadurerilrdarnunumaicandaceastacalmare
poateducelainsanatosirecisiatuncicandpoateserviuneimortiseninesiusoare
In Europa devine legala in Belgia (2002), Olanda -ca E din compasiune mercy killing(1993, 2002), Elvetia (lege aprobata privind suicidul asistat (one way tickets to Zurich).
Inntre 2002-2006 se pune in dezbatere publica eutanasia in Regatul Unit, Franta, Cehia fiind
respins.
Numarul E efectuate in Olanda nu este precis cunoscut. Conform Comisiei de cercetare a actului
medical si E (Committee Onderzoeck Medische Praktijk InzKE Euthanasie) in 2000 au fost inregistrate peste
20.000 cereri de E din care au fost indeplinite cel mult 6.000.
3. Clasificare
In relatie cu consimtamantul persoanei, E determina 3 relationari:
o Voluntara (cu consimtamantul direct al persoanei)
o Non-voluntara (fara consimtamantul direct al persoanei dar cu consimtamantul
indirect al apartinatorilor persoane incompetente, etc.-)
o Involuntara (impotriva vointei persoanei si apartinatorilor sau fara exprimarea
acestora-)
Se apreciaza de catre EAPC ca E nu poate fi altfel decat voluntara si ca urmare
conceptul de E voluntara trebuie abandonat fiind un pleonasm.
In literatura se face de asemenea diferenta intre E activa si pasiva prin modalitatea de
realizare:
o Activa
-Agresiva (administrarea de medicatie letala)
-Non-agresiva (oprirea suportului vital)
o Pasiva (neacordarea, oprirea medicatiei care intretine viata stiind ca drept
urmare va urma moartea)
EAPC considera ca distinctia este nepotrivita. In intelegerea EAPC cat si a legislatiei
olandeze actuale prin care E este considerata legala in aceasta tara, E nu poate fi altfel decat
activa intrucat fie ca actiune fie ca inactiune consecinta este activa asupra persoanei, adica
producerea decesului; altfel spus E pasiva se afla in contradictie de termeni si aceasta
asociere trebuie evitata.
Spre deosebire de E a carei intelegere si aplicare poate genera dezbateri, EAPC
considera ca suicidul asistat de medic reprezinta actiunea unui medic care intentionat ajuta o
persoana sa comita sinuciderea prin punerea la dispozitie pentru proprie administrare de
substante/droguri la solicitarea voluntara si competenta a acelei persoane. Aceasta actiune are
un statut clar, ilegal si incompatibil cu profesiunea medicala.
Se mai regaseste in literatura notiunea de eutanasie cu dublu efect care se
caracterizeaza prin administrarea unui medicament ce se afl oricum n schema terapeutic a
unui bolnav incurabil sau aflat ntr-o faz terminal a bolii a (de exemplu, morfin), i a
crei cretere continu a dozei poate provoca suprimarea funciei respiratorii i n final
moartea.
Curent termenul de eutanasie se suprapune peste cel de eutanasie activa; eutanasia
pasiva ca termen a fost inlocuita cu intreruperea asistarii vitale, luarea de pe aparate,
intreruprea ventilatiei mecanice. intreruperea suportului cardiorespirator samd.
3
4. Argumente
Testamentul Papei Pius XII in anul 1957: Ai dreptul si obligatia ca in caz de boala
grava sa faci pasii necesari pentru a conserva viata si sanatatea. Aceasta datorie revine din
mila ordonata de Creator, din justitia sociala si chiar din lege. Dar doctorul este obligat in
permanenta sa asigure doar masuri de tratament obisnuite...adica masuri care sa nu reprezinte
o povara nici pentru medic si nici pentru pacient.
4.1 Argumentatie pro E
Societatea este datoare s manifeste sentimente de compasiune i mil fa de
durere dar i fa de agonia semenului suferind.
Respectarea dreptului bolnavului la autodeterminare (Carta drepturilor Omului)
care include dreptul de a hotr autonom asupra modului de abordare a
chestiunii sntii sale, n care poate fi indus potenial i eutanasia Dreptul la o viata demna dar si la o moarte demna. Dreptul la viata incumba si
dreptul la moarte. Cat timp are dreptul la a trai cum poate fi lipsit de dreptul de a
muri?
Autori relevanti: Timothy Quill ("Death and Dignity," 1991), Richard Selzer,
Betty Rollin, Sidney Hook
4.2 Argumentatie contra E
Valoarea vietii: viaa uman este o valoare prin sine, valoare care nu poate n
nici un caz fi confundat cu succesul profesional ori social ori cu activitatea
individului; este un dar Divin. Adversarii eutanasiei resping opinia conform
creia n condiii de durere insuportabil viaa i pierde valoarea i se transform
n martiriu fizic i psihic. Oricat de bolnav este un om...el este indreptatit sa
aiba toate orele de viata pe care Dumnezeu i le-a harazid pe acest pamanat.
Aceste ore pot fi cele mai pretioase si mai importante din intreaga sa viata. Pot fi
afaceri de facut, testamente, cadouri, se pot da si primi iertari, 101 motive care sa
justifice aceste cuvinte... (depozitia procurorului in cazul dr. Carr)
Riscul politizarii E si a eugeniei. Crearea unei politici sociale privind eutanasia
nu poate fi acceptat intrucat ar putea s creasc posibilitatea ori chiar sa faca
probabila reluarea unei politici de eugenie sau de E involuntar.
Riscul abuzurilor criminale. Orice metod activ avnd ca scop moartea
incurabililor, anomaliilor, diformilor sau delicvenilor, deoarece orice doctrin
medical sau social care nu respect principiile vieii, ajunge inevitabil la
abuzuri criminale (Academia Francez)
Autori relevanti: Scrieri ale Bisericii (ex. Testamentul Papei Pius XII,1957), Nat
Hentoff, Leon R. Kass, Ronald Dworkin
5. Aspecte ale E la nou-nascut derivate din dilema a omori/a lasa sa moara
Desi lasat in urma subiectul E nou-nascutului ridica cele mai numeroase controverse
centrate de diferenta intre a ucide si a lasa sa moara.
Nou-nascutul plurimalformat pune problema E pasive sau a tratamentului nonselectiv
poate mai intens decat adultul constient sau nu. Consimtamantul sau privind tratamentul este
biologic absent si este transmis medicului prin intermediul parintilor si din partea acestora.
Daca mama poate dispune de propriul corp (ca in cazul avortului sau altor forme de terapie)
din momentul in care copil s-a nascut, ambii parinti trebuie sa accepte intreruperea
tratamentului un singur consimtamant nemaifiind suficient.
4
Daca acordul unuia dintre ei devine obligatoriu, atunci nu ar mai fi nici o diferenta intre
neonaticid si contraceptie. Sigur ca argumentul care afirma ca nou-nascutul nu isi poate
manifesta personalitatea este adevarat, dar nici un pediatru nu poate ucide. Se poate accepta
ca a lasa un copil sa moara poate fi in interesul copilului la un moment dat. Nontratamentul
selectiv al celor plurimalformati nu este discordant cu obligatia medicului de a sprijini viata
de la coneptie si pana la moarte. A lua in mod activ viata unui bolnav inseamna omucidere si
in aceasta definitie varsta nu este importanta.
Argumente care promoveaza existenta diferentei intre a ucide si a lasa sa moara
(Campbell si Downie, Practica pediatrica moderna, 1989).
Este o diferenta uriasa psihologica intre a permite moartea sau a ucide, diferenta care
este foarte importanta pentru personalul unitatilor de terapie intensive. Pentru acestia este o
mare diferenta intre a nu folosi un incubator pentru a tine in viata un copil de 600 gr. si a face
o injectie ucigasa, indiferent ca rezultatul este similar.
Argumente care promoveaza lipsa diferentei intre a ucide si a lasa sa moara, J. Rachel
In the first [instance], Smith stands to gain a large inheritance if anything should
happen to his sixyear-old cousin. One evening, while the child is taking his bath, Smith
sneaks into the bathroomand drowns the child, and then arranges things so that it will look
like an accident.
In the second, Jones also stands to gain if anything should happen to his six-year-old
cousin. Like Smith, Jones sneaks in planning to drown the child in his bath. However, just as
he enters the bathroom Jones sees the child slip and hit his head, and fall face down in the
water, Jones is delighted; he stands by, ready to push the childs head back under if it is
necessary, but it is not necessary. With only a little thrashing about, the child drowns all by
himself, accidentally, as Jones watches anddoes nothing.
6. Ingrijiri paliative, IP
Ingrijirile paliative reprezinta in Europa o parte integranata si pe cale de extindere a
ingrijirilor medicale. Pot exista diferente culturale regionale si nationale in ce priveste
organizarea ingrijirilor paliative pentru sanatate care se pot reflecta in practica medicala.
Totusi n 1989 EAPC a reusit definirea ingrijirilor paliative de o maniera recunoscuta de catre
OMS in Cancer Pain Relief and Palliative Care. Recent o noua definitie a OMS a aparut.
Astfel IP reprezinta imbunatatirea calitatii vietii pacientilor si a familiilor acestora in
fata problemlor de sanatate pe care le asociaza boliel letaleprin preventia si usurarea suferintei
prin identificarea precoce si evaluarea impecabila si tratamentul durerii si a altor probleme
fizice, psihologice si spirituale.
IP:
-usureaza durerea si alte simptome suparatoare
-afirma viata si privesc mmoartea ca pe un proces normal
-nu incearca nici sa grabeasca si nici sa amane moartea
-integreaza aspectele psihologice si spirituale ale ingrijirii pacientului
-ofera un suport pentru a ajuta viata pe cat de activ se poate pana la sfarsit
-ofera un sistem pentru a ajuta familia pe timpul bolii apartinatorului si a propriei
suferinte
-foloseste o echipa care sa se adreseze nevoilor pacientilor si familiilor lor
-cresc calitatea vietii si pot dea semenea sa influenteze pozitiv evolutia bolii
-aplicata devreme in evolutia bolii poate impreuna cu alte mijloace terapeutice precum
chemoterapia, radioterapia sa prelungeasca viata si suportabilitatea complicatiilor clinice
Solicitarile pentru eutaanasie si suicid asistat de catre medic sunt adesea alterate de
acordarea unor IP de calitate. Persoanele care solicita E sau suicidul asistat de medic ar trebui
sa aiba acces la expertiza IP.
Realizarea E sau facilitarea suicidului asistat nu au nici o legatura cu IP.
Respectul pentru autonomie este un tel important al IP care incearca sa intareasca
autonomia si nu sa o slabeasca. Accesul la IP de calitate trebuie sa constituie o politica
nationala si internationala.
medicul meu stabileste ca este terminala, indic ca masurile de sust inere a vietii care
servesc doar prelungirii agoniei mele sa fie oprite si intrerupte (If I suffer an
incurable, irreversible illness, disease, or condition and my attending physician
determines that my condition is terminal, I direct that life-sustaining measures that
would serve only to prolong my dying be withheld or discontinued.)
8.2.Nancy Cruzan, 1990
Nancy Cruzan a devenit o figura publica importanta dupa ce a intrat in "persistent
vegetative state", PVS.
In 1983 in urma unui accident rutier a ramas
permanent inconstienta si fara functie cerebrala,
intretinuta in viata prin gavaj si ingrijiri medicale
atente. Familia sa a condus o lupta indelungata
pentru ca sa i se inlature tubul de alimentatie.
Cazul a ajuns la curtea Suprema a SUA care au
stabilit ca familia sa nu a putut aduce o clara si
convingatoare probatiune ca Nancy Cruzan nu ar
fi dorit ca masurile artificiale sa nu fie continuate.
Ulterior familia au prezentat o astfel de marturie
judecatoriei din statul Missouri care au decis in
favoarea lor in 1990. Famili a a incetat
alimentarea corpului lui nancy in decembrie 1990
si ea a murit mai tarziu in aceeasi luna.
Sindromul PVS; definitie: a fost descris prima data in 1940 de catre Ernst Kretschmer
sub numele de sd. apalic. Termenul a fost reinventat in 1972 de catre chirurgul scotian
Bryan Jennett si neurologul american Fred Plum pentru a descrie un sindrom care a
devenit posibil prin cresterea capacitatii medicinii de a tine in viata corpurile umane.
Semne si simptome ale PVS: pacientul aflat in stare vegetativa este de obicei
inconstient. Este neresponsiv la stimuli externi probabil cu exceptia stimulilor
durerorosi. Spre deosebire de coma in care ochii sunt inchisi, pacientul cu PVS
deschide adesea ochii care pot sa se gaseasca intr-o pozitie fixa sau urmarind obiecte
sau in miscari neconjugate. Ochii pot descrie cilcuri asemantoare somnului sau sa se
afle intr-o stare de trezire cronica. Pot prezenta comportamente care pot fi apreciate ca
rezultate din stari partiel de constienta precum scrasnitul dintilor, inghitirea, zambetul,
curgerea lacrimilor, mormaitul, cascatul, tipatul aparent fara un stimul extern
evidentiabil.
Diagnostic: multi pacienti pot iesi din starea vegetativa in cateva saptamani dar cei ce
nu recupereaza in 30 zile se numesc a fi in stare vegetativa persistenta, PVS. Sansa
recuperarii depinde de extinderea leziunii cerebrale si de varsta: tinerii au prognostic
mai bun decat varstnicii. La 6 luni in general adultii au 50% sanse de recuperare a
constientei in timp de copii 60 %. Dupa an sansele scad foarte mult si recuperarea este
insotita de severe disabilitati. Cu cat mai mult se afla o persoana in PVS cu atat mai
grave sunt dizabilitatile cu care va ramane.
10
8.3.Jack Kevorkian
nascut in 26 Mai, 1928, patolog american. Declara ca
a asistat cel putin 130 pacienti pentru a muri. A spus
ca a muri nu este o crima (Doctor Death,. A fost
condamnat 8 ani intre 1999-2007 pentru omor grd. II.
A fost eliberat in 1 Iunie 2007 conditionat pentru
comportament bun.
BIBLIOGRAFIE
1 Roy DJ, Rapin C-H, the EAPC Board of Directors.Regarding euthanasia. Eur J Palliat Care 1994; 1: 57 /59.
(Available in full text at: http://www.eapcnet.org/download/Euthanasiastatement94(E).pdf, accessed 24
January 2003)
2 Haverkate I, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, van der Heide A,Kostense PJ, van der Wal G, van der Maas PJ.
Refusedand granted requests for euthanasia and assisted suicidein the Netherlands: interview study with
structured questionnaire. BMJ 2000; 321: 865 /66. (Full
text:http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7265/865, accessed 24 January 2003)
3 Rights of the Terminally Ill Amendment Act 1996. (F ull text of law: ht tp://www.nt.gov.au/lant/parliament/
committees/rotti/rottiamendmentact96.pdf, accessed 24 January 2003)
4 Parliament of Australia. http://www.aph.gov.au/, accessed 24 January 2003.
5 The Oregon Death with Dignity Act. Ballot measure no. 16. Oregon Revised Statute 127.800-127.897. (Full
text of law: http://www.ohd.hr.st ate.or.us/chs/pas/ors.htm, accessed 24 January 2003)
6 The Netherlands Department of Justice. Press Releases.
http://www.minjust.nl:8080/c_actual/persber/index.htm, accessed 24 January 2003.
13
14
ANEXE
ANEXA 1
It's Over, Debbie
The call came in the middle of the night. As a gynecology resident rotating through a large,
private hospital, I had come to detest telephone calls, because invariably I would be up for
several hours and would not feel good the next day. However, duty called, so I answered the
phone. A nurse informed me that a patient was having difficulty getting rest, could I please
see her. She was on 3 North. That was the gynecologic-oncology unit, not my usual duty
station. As I trudged along, bumping sleepily against walls and corners and not believing I
was up again, I tried to imagine what I might find at the end of my walk. Maybe an elderly
woman with an anxiety reaction, or perhaps something particularly horrible.
I grabbed the chart from the nurses station on my way to the patient's room, and the nurse
gave me some hurried details: a 20-year-old girl named Debbie was dying of ovarian cancer.
She was having unrelenting vomiting apparently as the result of an alcohol drip administered
for sedation. Hmmm, I thought. Very sad. As I approached the room I could hear loud,
labored breathing. I entered and saw an emaciated, dark-haired woman who appeared much
older than 20. She was receiving nasal oxygen, had an IV, and was sitting in bed suffering
from what was obviously severe air hunger. The chart noted her weight at 80 pounds. A
second woman, also dark-haired but of middle age, stood at her right, holding her hand. Both
looked up as I entered. The room seemed filled with the patient's desperate effort to survive.
Her eyes were hollow, and she had suprasternal and intercostal retractions with her rapid
inspirations. She had not eaten or slept in two days. She had not responded to chemotherapy
and was being given supportive care only. It was a gallows scene, a cruel mockery of her
youth and unfulfilled potential. Her only words to me were, "Let's get this over with."
I retreated with my thoughts to the nurses station. The patient was tired and needed rest. I
could not give her health, but I could give her rest. I asked the nurse to draw 20 mg of
morphine sulfate into a syringe. Enough, I thought, to do the job. I took the syringe into the
room and told the two women I was going to give Debbie something that would let her rest
and to say good-bye. Debbie looked at the syringe, then laid her head on the pillow with her
eyes open, watching what was left of the world. I injected the morphine intravenously and
watched to see if my calculations on its effects would be correct. Within seconds her
breathing slowed to a normal rate, her eyes closed, and her features softened as she seemed
restful at last. The older woman stroked the hair of the now-sleeping patient. I waited for the
inevitable next effect of depressing the respiratory drive. With clocklike certainty, within four
minutes the breathing rate slowed even more, then became irregular, then ceased. The darkhaired woman stood erect and seemed relieved.
It's over, Debbie.
Name withheld by request
From A Piece of My Mind, a feature in the Jan. 8, 1988, issue of JAMA (Vol 259, No. 2),
http://web.missouri.edu/~bondesonw/Debbie.HTM
15
ANEXA 2
Ideologia National Socialista Germana a fundamentat nc din 1923 eutanasia ca fiind
a metoda care permite degrevarea statului "arian" - de "nveliuri goale", adic bolnavii
psihici i incurabili.
n lucrarea de fundamentare a naional-socialismului, "Mein-Kampf, Hitler a scris:
"Povara economic pe care o reprezint persoanele suferinde de boli ereditare reprezint un
pericol pentru stat i societate.... suntem convini c, n curnd, fiecare ar i va da seama c
puterea sa se gsete n puritatea sngelui sau i a spiritului su. Singura garanie a unei viei
linitite se afla n diferenierea dintre snge i snge. Considerm lipsit de sens ca alienaii
periculoi pentru societate i pentru existena lor, idioi care nu cunosc noiuni elementare de
igien i nici mcar nu pot sa mnnce singuri, s fie crescui i meninui n via cu preul
unor mari eforturi i a unor mari cheltuieli. n mijlocul naturii aceste creaturi n-ar putea exista
i ar fi exterminate, conform legilor divine...."
Hitler da dat si o lege privind eutanasia activ pe care a denumit-o "eliberare prin
moarte a persoanelor care, n limitele judecaii omeneti i n urma unui examen medical
temeinic, sunt declarate incurabile" - decretul eutanasiei - 1 sept. 1939. n urma acestei
hotrri, n doi ani au fost exterminai foarte multi oameni care nu aveau alta vin dect aceea
ca erau bolnavi.
n timp ce trei echipe de medici ai Ministerului de Interne German (Asociaia
Filantropic pentru ngrijiri, Corporaia de Transport a Bolnavilor i Serviciul Colectiv de
Munc) desfurau adevrate sisteme de triaj pentru "eliberarea" bolnavilor, alte echipe
cutau diagnostice pentru certificatele de deces care urmau s fie transmise familiilor i
aparintorilor bolnavilor. S-a ajuns astfel la o situaie critic n ntreaga Germanie cuprins
de rzboi. Indignarea face loc mniei iar preoii, din amvon, fac apel la umanitate i etic.
Monseniorul von Galen, episcopul de Munster i Cardinalul Faulhaber, arhiepiscop de
Munchen, sunt arestai i nchii n lagre de concentrare. Spre surprinderea general a aprut
prima micare de dizident colectiv antinazist care a determinat oprirea programului de
eutanasie si eliberarea inaltilor preoti.
16
ANEXA 3
Recommendation 1418 (1999)1Protection of the human rights and dignity of the
terminally ill and the dying (Extract from the Official Gazette of the Council of Europe
June 1999)
1. The vocation of the Council of Europe is to protect the dignity of all human beings and the
rights which stem therefrom.
2. Medical progress, which now makes it possible to cure many previously incurable or fatal
diseases, the improvement of medical techniques and the development of resuscitation
techniques, which make it possible to prolong a persons survival, to defer the moment of
death. As a result the quality of life of the dying is often neglected, and their loneliness and
suffering ignored, as is that of their families and care-givers.
3. In 1976, in its Resolution 613, the Assembly declared that it was "convinced that what
dying patients most want is to die in peace and dignity, if possible with the comfort and
support of their family and friends", and added in its Recommendation 779 (1976) that "the
prolongation of life should not in itself constitute the exclusive aim of medical practice, which
must be concerned equally with the relief of suffering".
4. Since then, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human
Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine has formed important
principles and paved the way without explicitly referring to the specific requirements of the
terminally ill or dying.
5. The obligation to respect and to protect the dignity of a terminally ill or dying person
derives from the inviolability of human dignity in all stages of life. This respect and
protection find their expression in the provision of an appropriate environment, enabling a
human being to die in dignity.
6. This task has to be carried out especially for the benefit of the most vulnerable members of
society, a fact demonstrated by the many experiences of suffering in the past and the present.
Just as a human being begins his or her life in weakness and dependency, he or she needs
protection and support when dying.
7. Fundamental rights deriving from the dignity of the terminally ill or dying person are
threatened today by a variety of factors:
i. insufficient access to palliative care and good pain management;
ii. often lacking treatment of physical suffering and a failure to take into account
psychological, social and spiritual needs;
iii. artificial prolongation of the dying process by either using disproportionate medical
measures or by continuing treatment without a patients consent;
iv. the lack of continuing education and psychological support for health-care
professionals working in palliative medicine;
v. insufficient care and support for relatives and friends of terminally ill or dying
patients, which otherwise could alleviate human suffering in its various dimensions;
vi. patients fear of losing their autonomy and becoming a burden to, and totally
dependent upon, their relatives or institutions;
vii. the lack or inadequacy of a social as well as institutional environment in which
someone may take leave of his or her relatives and friends peacefully;
viii. insufficient allocation of funds and resources for the care and support of the
terminally ill or dying;
ix. the social discrimination inherent in weakness, dying and death.
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8. The Assembly calls upon member states to provide in domestic law the necessary legal and
social protection against these specific dangers and fears which a terminally ill or dying
person may be faced with in domestic law, and in particular against:
i. dying exposed to unbearable symptoms (for example, pain, suffocation, etc.);
ii. prolongation of the dying process of a terminally ill or dying person against his or her
will;
iii. dying alone and neglected;
iv. dying under the fear of being a social burden;
v. limitation of life-sustaining treatment due to economic reasons;
vi. insufficient provision of funds and resources for adequate supportive care of the
terminally ill or dying.
9. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers encourage the
member states of the Council of Europe to respect and protect the dignity of terminally ill or
dying persons in all respects:
a. by recognising and protecting a terminally ill or dying persons right to comprehensive
palliative care, while taking the necessary measures:
i. to ensure that palliative care is recognised as a legal entitlement of the individual in all
member states;
ii. to provide equitable access to appropriate palliative care for all terminally ill or dying
persons;
iii. to ensure that relatives and friends are encouraged to accompany the terminally ill or
dying and are professionally supported in their endeavours. If family and/or
private networks prove to be either insufficient or overstretched, alternative or
supplementary forms of professional medical care are to be provided;
iv. to provide for ambulant hospice teams and networks, to ensure that palliative care is
available at home, wherever ambulant care for the terminally ill or dying may be
feasible;
v. to ensure co-operation between all those involved in the care of a terminally ill or
dying person;
vi. to ensure the development and implementation of quality standards for the care of
the terminally ill or dying;
vii. to ensure that, unless the patient chooses otherwise, a terminally ill or dying person
will receive adequate pain relief and palliative care, even if this treatment as a
side-effect may contribute to the shortening of the individuals life;
viii. to ensure that health professionals are trained and guided to provide medical,
nursing and psychological care for any terminally ill or dying person in coordinated teamwork, according to the highest standards possible;
ix. to set up and further develop centres of research, teaching and training in the fields
of palliative medicine and care as well as in interdisciplinary thanatology;
x. to ensure that specialised palliative care units as well as hospices are established at
least in larger hospitals, from which palliative medicine and care can evolve as an
integral part of any medical treatment;
xi. to ensure that palliative medicine and care are firmly established in public awareness
as an important goal of medicine;
b. by protecting the terminally ill or dying persons right to self-determination, while taking
the necessary measures:
i. to give effect to a terminally ill or dying persons right to truthful and comprehensive,
yet compassionately delivered information on his or her health condition while
respecting an individuals wish not to be informed;
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ii. to enable any terminally ill or dying person to consult doctors other than his or her
usual doctor;
iii. to ensure that no terminally ill or dying person is treated against his or her will while
ensuring that he or she is neither influenced nor pressured by another person.
Furthermore, safeguards are to be envisaged to ensure that their wishes are not
formed under economic pressure;
iv. to ensure that a currently incapacitated terminally ill or dying persons advance
directive or living will refusing specific medical treatments is observed.
Furthermore, to ensure that criteria of validity as to the scope of instructions given
in advance, as well as the nomination of proxies and the extent of their authority
are defined; and to ensure that surrogate decisions by proxies based on advance
personal statements of will or assumptions of will are only to be taken if the will
of the person concerned has not been expressed directly in the situation or if there
is no recognisable will. In this context, there must always be a clear connection to
statements that were made by the person in question close in time to the decisionmaking situation, more precisely at the time when he or she is dying, and in an
appropriate situation without exertion of pressure or mental disability. To ensure
that surrogate decisions that rely on general value judgements present in society
should not be admissible and that, in case of doubt, the decision must always be
for life and the prolongation of life;
v. to ensure that notwithstanding the physicians ultimate therapeutic responsibility
the expressed wishes of a terminally ill or dying person with regard to particular
forms of treatment are taken into account, provided they do not violate human
dignity;
vi. to ensure that in situations where an advance directive or living will does not exist,
the patients right to life is not infringed upon. A catalogue of treatments which
under no condition may be withheld or withdrawn is to be defined;
c. by upholding the prohibition against intentionally taking the life of terminally ill or dying
persons, while:
i. recognising that the right to life, especially with regard to a terminally ill or dying
person, is guaranteed by the member states, in accordance with Article 2 of the
European Convention on Human Rights which states that "no one shall be
deprived of his life intentionally";
ii. recognising that a terminally ill or dying persons wish to die never constitutes any
legal claim to die at the hand of another person;
iii. recognising that a terminally ill or dying persons wish to die cannot of itself
constitute a legal justification to carry out actions intended to bring about death.
______
1. Assembly debate on 25 June 1999 (24th Sitting) (see Doc. 8421, report of the Social, Health and Family
Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mrs Gatterer; and Doc. 8454, opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights, rapporteur: Mr McNamara).
Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 June 1999 (24th Sitting).
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