Physician-hastened Death In Young Children: Getting To Underlying Assumptions.

Title

Physician-hastened Death In Young Children: Getting To Underlying Assumptions.

Creator

Liao L; Chan D

Identifier

PMCID: PMC4934156

Publisher

Journal Of Paediatrics And Child Health

Date

2016

Subject

Ethics; Euthanasia; Infants; Physician-assisted Death; Suffering; Worldview

Description

Significant changes are occurring in Canada's health care system regarding physician-hastened death (PHD). In the Netherlands, where the Groningen Protocol is in place, euthanasia in now legal for infants and children. The present article considers whether PHD should be applied to young children in Canada and how these paediatric cases differ from adult cases. The discussion analyzes and critiques the underlying assumptions necessary to believe that PHD is good. The role of worldviews in the deliberation of any moral question and the importance of recognizing personal bias are highlighted. The authors present common issues regarding PHD, including suffering, parental autonomy and future quality of life, and examine the basic assumptions on which these arguments are made. Finally, they conclude that the assumptions required are incorrect and that PHD should not be allowed in the case of children. Instead, policies should continue to strive for the protection and promotion of health in all children.

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Citation List Month

June 2016 List

Citation

Liao L; Chan D, “Physician-hastened Death In Young Children: Getting To Underlying Assumptions.,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed March 28, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/10542.