A psychiatric defense of aid in dying

David M. Smith; David Pollack

doi:10.1023/A:1018754816369

A psychiatric defense of aid in dying

David M. Smith, David Pollack

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

In November 1997, the voters of Oregon resoundingly affirmed the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. This law allows competent, terminally ill persons who are suffering in the final 6 months of life to obtain a lethal prescription from a physician. This paper presents a psychiatric defense of the Death With Dignity Act including the role of mental health professionals in evaluating competence in compliance with the law. Ethical, logistical, and political issues related to aid-in-dying are reviewed and a strategy for assessing competence is offered.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	547-556
Number of pages	10
Journal	Community mental health journal
Volume	34
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018754816369
State	Published - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1023/A:1018754816369

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abstract = "In November 1997, the voters of Oregon resoundingly affirmed the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. This law allows competent, terminally ill persons who are suffering in the final 6 months of life to obtain a lethal prescription from a physician. This paper presents a psychiatric defense of the Death With Dignity Act including the role of mental health professionals in evaluating competence in compliance with the law. Ethical, logistical, and political issues related to aid-in-dying are reviewed and a strategy for assessing competence is offered.",

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AB - In November 1997, the voters of Oregon resoundingly affirmed the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. This law allows competent, terminally ill persons who are suffering in the final 6 months of life to obtain a lethal prescription from a physician. This paper presents a psychiatric defense of the Death With Dignity Act including the role of mental health professionals in evaluating competence in compliance with the law. Ethical, logistical, and political issues related to aid-in-dying are reviewed and a strategy for assessing competence is offered.

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VL - 34

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JO - Community mental health journal

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A psychiatric defense of aid in dying

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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