Tsai Bruce Ch, Menkes David B
Final Year Medical Student, University of Auckland, Auckland.
Associate Professor, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Auckland.
N Z Med J. 2020 Sep 25;133(1522):149-160.
To provide an overview of the New Zealand End of Life Choice Act in comparison with other countries, arguments for and against euthanasia, and consideration of relevant legal and practical issues.
Structured descriptive summary of criteria for medical euthanasia in various jurisdictions currently allowing the practice, compared with New Zealand legislation. Narrative review of arguments for and against euthanasia with reference to existing medical literature and legal cases.
A strong case for medical assistance in dying, based on autonomy and quality of life arguments, is countered by a long history of medical and legal tradition protecting life.
This highly contentious issue is coming before the New Zealand public as a referendum in October 2020. The results will have profound implications for medical practice as well as reflecting societal shifts in attitudes toward death and dying.
概述新西兰《临终选择法案》，并与其他国家进行比较，阐述支持和反对安乐死的论点，以及对相关法律和实际问题的考量。
对目前允许实施医疗安乐死的各司法管辖区的医疗安乐死标准进行结构化描述性总结，并与新西兰立法进行比较。参考现有医学文献和法律案例，对支持和反对安乐死的论点进行叙述性综述。
基于自主权和生活质量的论据，为临终医疗协助提供了有力支持，但保护生命的悠久医学和法律传统对其进行了反驳。
这个极具争议性的问题将于2020年10月以全民公投的形式呈现在新西兰公众面前。其结果将对医疗实践产生深远影响，同时也反映出社会对死亡态度的转变。
