Irremediability in psychiatric euthanasia: examining the objective standard.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Irremediability is a key requirement for euthanasia and assisted suicide for psychiatric disorders (psychiatric EAS). Countries like the Netherlands and Belgium ask clinicians to assess irremediability in light of the patient's diagnosis and prognosis and 'according to current medical understanding'. Clarifying the relevance of a default objective standard for irremediability when applied to psychiatric EAS is crucial for solid policymaking. Yet so far, a thorough examination of this standard is lacking.

Methods

Using treatment-resistant depression (TRD) as a test case, through a scoping review in PubMed, we analyzed the state-of-the-art evidence for whether clinicians can accurately predict individual long-term outcome and single out irremediable cases, by examin

SUBMITTER: Nicolini ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10482705 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature