Legal Affairs, Compassion & Choices, Denver, CO; Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA.
Chest. 2012 Jul;142(1):218-224. doi: 10.1378/chest.12-0046.
Patients approaching death because of terminal illness may find themselves trapped in a dying process they find unbearable, even with excellent pain and symptom management. Some will want the option of aid in dying. Aid in dying is the practice of a physician writing a prescription for medication for a mentally competent, terminally ill patient that the patient may ingest to bring about a peaceful death. The practice is increasingly accepted by physicians, and it is likely that a growing population of patients will inquire about it. Data from states that give terminally ill patients a statutory right to aid in dying demonstrate that the practice improves end-of-life care. Therefore, it is timely for clinical practice guidelines to emerge to offer guidance to physicians willing to provide aid in dying.
由于绝症而濒临死亡的患者可能会发现自己陷入了无法忍受的临终过程中，即使有出色的疼痛和症状管理也是如此。有些人会希望选择辅助死亡。辅助死亡是指医生为有能力的绝症患者开具药物处方，患者可以服用这些药物以实现平静的死亡。这种做法越来越被医生所接受，而且很可能越来越多的患者会询问这种做法。给予绝症患者辅助死亡法定权利的州的数据表明，这种做法改善了临终关怀。因此，及时制定临床实践指南为愿意提供辅助死亡的医生提供指导是适时的。
