Euthanasia: providing optimal terminal care

Ian J Hamilton

doi:10.3399/bjgp16X683605

Intended for Healthcare Professionals

I agree with McEvoy that the medical profession should not become social agents in direct action to end life and should aim to achieve optimal terminal care.¹ Unfortunately this situation does not exist at present. Perhaps if more attention was paid to the experience of dying patients and the views of their relatives and carers as suggested by the Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People² then we as a profession would be better equipped to provide optimal end-of-life care.

REFERENCES

1.↵
1. McEvoy P
(2015) Euthanasia, ethics, and the Gordian Knot: is the Hippocratic Code obsolete? Br J Gen Pract doi:10.3399/bjgp15X687721.
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2.↵
(2014) One chance to get it right: improving people’s experience of care in the last few days and hours of life, Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People (Department of Health, London) https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/323188/One_chance_to_get_it_right.pdf (accessed 11 Jan 2016).