CHEST Guidelines-A-Medical-Student-Perspective-on-Physician-Assiste

A-Medical-Student-Perspective-on-Physician-Assiste

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The article presents a medical student perspective on the debate surrounding physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia (PAS/E) from future doctors who are about to enter the profession. The authors argue that PAS/E is incompatible with the fundamental principles of medicine. They instead emphasize the importance of providing high-quality end-of-life and palliative care.<br /><br />Medical students are in a unique position, having ample time to engage deeply with patients and understanding their fears and desires. They express concern that incorporating PAS/E into medical practice could corrupt the physician-patient relationship, as patients are very impressionable and can be significantly influenced by a physician's demeanor and communication during critical life moments.<br /><br />Further, the endorsement of PAS/E might send a harmful message that ending one's life is a valid solution, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as those experiencing mental illness or those who feel like a burden due to financial constraints. The authors highlight that PAS/E shifts the fundamental trust inherent in the physician-patient relationship, eroding the expectation that physicians will strive to heal and care for their patients, not intentionally end their lives.<br /><br />The paper references the situation in Belgium, where PAS/E has led to instances where patients’ lives were ended without their explicit request, thus illustrating a dangerous slippery slope. The authors also discuss inadequate safeguards in laws like Colorado’s Proposition 106, which permits PAS/E without stringent requirements for psychological evaluation or robust protections against coercion.<br /><br />The authors call for a reevaluation of PAS/E's role, advocating instead for comprehensive palliative care that respects patient dignity and focuses on improving quality of life even as death approaches. They urge their current and future medical colleagues to adhere to medicine's original definition of euthanasia, which emphasizes easing end-of-life suffering without hastening death.

Keywords

physician-assisted suicide

euthanasia

medical students

end-of-life care

palliative care

physician-patient relationship

vulnerable populations

mental illness

slippery slope

patient dignity