assisted dying
Medically facilitated ending
Assisted dying refers to medical practices that help terminally ill patients end their lives, typically through physician-prescribed lethal medication.
The term encompasses both euthanasia, where a doctor administers the fatal dose, and assisted suicide, where the patient self-administers.
Advocates prefer "assisted dying" to "suicide" to distinguish voluntary death from mental illness: Several states now permit assisted dying for terminal patients.
Independent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- choiceAct of selecting
- agencyPower to act
- controlAuthority to direct
dignified death · empowerment · respect · grace · integrity · self-respect · bodily autonomy · personal sovereignty
Moral philosophy for medicine
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- sanctity of lifePrinciple that existence is sacred
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
- medical ethicsHealthcare moral principles
patient rights · consent · slippery slope · autonomy · philosophy · ethicists · consequentialism · deontology
Formal argument on issues
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- activismDirect effort for reform
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- public opinionSociety's shared attitudes
media coverage · right-to-life · pro-life · advocacy · campaigns · referendum · protest · disability rights
Relief-focused medicine for illness
- end-of-life careCare for the dying
- comfort careSymptom relief, not cure
- hospiceTerminal illness comfort program
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
empathy · supportive care · solace · gentleness · caregiving · respite · serenity · consolation
Official enactment of statutes
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- safeguardsMeasures preventing harm
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
prosecution · litigation · human rights · court rulings · precedent · policy · compliance · waiting period
Incurable, deadly medical condition
- prognosisPredicted disease course
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- barbituratesSedative-hypnotic drug class
- attending physicianSenior doctor supervising care
life expectancy · incurable · informed consent · prescription
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- choiceAct of selecting
- agencyPower to act
control · dignified death · empowerment · respect · grace · integrity · self-respect · bodily autonomy · personal sovereignty · death with dignity
bioethics
Moral philosophy for medicine
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- sanctity of lifePrinciple that existence is sacred
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
medical ethics · patient rights · consent · slippery slope · autonomy · philosophy · ethicists · consequentialism · deontology · do no harm
debate
Formal argument on issues
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- activismDirect effort for reform
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
public opinion · media coverage · right-to-life · pro-life · advocacy · campaigns · referendum · protest · disability rights · safeguards
palliative care
Relief-focused medicine for illness
- end-of-life careCare for the dying
- comfort careSymptom relief, not cure
- hospiceTerminal illness comfort program
mercy · empathy · supportive care · solace · gentleness · caregiving · respite · serenity · consolation · bedside manner
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- safeguardsMeasures preventing harm
jurisdiction · prosecution · litigation · human rights · court rulings · precedent · policy · compliance · waiting period · eligibility
terminal illness
Incurable, deadly medical condition
- prognosisPredicted disease course
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- barbituratesSedative-hypnotic drug class
attending physician · life expectancy · incurable · informed consent · prescription
- deathdead, deceased, corpse, mortality, demise
- bioethicsbioethics, medical ethics, genetic engineering, beneficence, non-maleficence
- death lawdeath certificate, death certificates, death tax, death penalty, death benefits
- euthanasiaeuthanasia, voluntary euthanasia, active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, mercy killing
- mortalitydeath, death knell, deceased, death rate, death acceptance
- Canadian Issueshealth care, housing crisis, First Nations, climate change, carbon tax
assisted dyingnatural death
Death from internal causes
accidental death · sudden death · natural causes · letting nature take its course · unexpected death
assisted dyingmurder
Deliberate unlawful killing
homicide · killing · manslaughter · assassination · execution
assisted dyinglife support
Systems maintaining vital functions
resuscitation · palliative care · fighting for life · aggressive treatment · CPR
assist, assisted, assisting, assists, assistant, assistants, assistance, unassisted, dying