09/03/13
Cancer Council Australia, School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Soc Sci Med. 2008 Aug;67(4):647-56
Within developed nations, there is increasing public debate about and apparent endorsement of the appropriateness of euthanasia as an autonomous choice to die in the face of intolerable suffering. Surveys report socio-demographic differences in rates of acceptance of euthanasia, but there is little in-depth analysis of how euthanasia is understood and positioned within the social and moral lives of individuals, particularly those who might be considered suitable candidates-for example, terminally-ill cancer patients. During discussions with 28 such patients in Australia regarding medical decisions at the end of life, euthanasia was raised by 13 patients, with the others specifically asked about it. Twenty-four patients spoke positively of euthanasia, 19 of these voicing some concerns. None identified euthanasia as a currently favoured option. Four were completely against it. Endorsement for euthanasia was in the context of a hypothetical future or for a hypothetical other person, or temporally associated with acute pain.Arguments supporting euthanasia framed the issue as a matter of freedom of choice, as preserving dignity in death, and as curbing intolerable pain and suffering, both of the patient and of those around them. A common analogy featured was that of euthanising a dog. These arguments were typically presented as self-evident justification for euthanasia, construed as an appropriate choice to die, with opposers positioned as morally inferior or ignorant. The difficulties of ensuring 'choice' and the moral connotations of 'choosing to die,' however, worked to problematise the appropriateness of euthanising specific individuals. We recommend further empirical investigation of the moral and social meanings associated with euthanasia.
下線部：オーストラリアにおぃて２８人の末期がん患者が話し合い、２４人が安楽死に肯定的であり、そのうちの１９人が若干の懸念を抱いていた。今現在やろうと考えている人はいなかった。そして４人が安楽死に反対した。
goodな例とは言い切れないかもしれないけど、下線部の後に末期がん患者とEUTHを選択する理由の関係があり興味深い。
written by tanaka
09/03/11
SO HUMBLING;
Family of death-pact couple speaks out over their care
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 8
THE
family of a wealthy British couple who ended their lives together at a voluntary euthanasia clinic in Switzerland said they had both received "wonderful and humbling care".
Peter and Penelope Duff, from Bath in Somerset, died at the Dignitas clinic in Zurich on February 27.
Retired businessmen Mr Duff was suffering from colon and liver cancer and his 70-year-old wife had been suffering from another rare form of the disease, Gist (gastrointestinal stromal tumour) since 1992.
A family statement released yesterday said: "Their decision in no way reflected on the wonderful and humbling care they have received from their consultant, doctors and nurses, for which the family, and they, were so appreciative." The Duffs are the latest Britons to end their lives at Dignitas.
Although there is no suggestion of them being helped by anyone else to end their lives, their deaths will reopen the debate on whether voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide for the terminally ill should be allowed in Britain.
There have been a series of legal bids in recent years to clarify the law relating to the issue.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Debby Purdy, who said she is ready to end her life if her condition becomes intolerable, lost a Court of Appeal bid last month to clarify the law.
British anti-euthanasia campaign group Care Not Killing said the Duffs' deaths did not make a case for legalising assisted suicide.
A spokesman said: "The fact remains that, if euthanasia was ever legalised in Britain, vulnerable and seriously ill people would come under pressure to end their lives prematurely."
最終更新：2009年03月13日 09:02
