PubMed · 13740198
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G REDELL. 1960-09-30. [The physicians' responsibility].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13740198/
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In the last week of life, the extent and kind of medical practice differ both in intention and in the degree of orientation on the outcome. Patients tend to put long-term prescriptions aside or ask for symptom-relieving medication and sometimes for palliative sedation, euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. Competent physicians are able to offer or withhold treatment. In case of unconsciousness or severe cognitive impairment, proxies may ask for medical relief of disturbing symptoms. Medical practice is subject to the Dutch Medical Treatment Act (1995). At the start of the specific Dutch law specifying judicial review of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (1993, implemented in 2002) 1.8% of deaths concerned euthanasia. In 2005, standard drugs (choice, dose and route of administration) were highly effective in all cases of euthanasia in which they were used (76%): death within a median of 3-4 min, maximum 90 min. In the absence of medical indications for drug overdose, morphine and other choices are now considered obsolete for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The definition of euthanasia must be based exclusively on a standard method and outcome: death on request by a standard medical method with a standard judicial review.
The practice of health professionals in the hospital environment has been loosing its human characteristics in view of the care delivered to the disease rather than to the sick being, and also in view of the increasing technological complexity, associated with increasing costs. Ethics requires the implementation of a reflective process concerning the principles, values, rights, and duties ruling the practice of health professionals, the latter including the dimension of care from a humanized perspective. Thus, this study aimed to reflect on ethical considerations upon which humanization actions must be grounded, highlighting the importance of a human dimension in professional relations.