{"id":8949,"date":"2018-10-23T15:50:52","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T22:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.consciencelaws.org\/?p=8949"},"modified":"2023-01-22T15:06:48","modified_gmt":"2023-01-22T23:06:48","slug":"weakening-the-ethical-distinction-between-euthanasia-palliative-opioid-use-and-palliative-sedation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/library.consciencelaws.org\/?p=8949","title":{"rendered":"Weakening the ethical distinction between euthanasia, palliative opioid use and palliative sedation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thomas David Riisfeldt<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"Journal
Journal of Medical Ethics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Abstract<\/strong>
Opioid and sedative use are common \u2018active\u2019 practices in the provision of mainstream palliative care services, and are typically distinguished from euthanasia on the basis that they do not shorten survival time. Even supposing that they did, it is often argued that they are justified and distinguished from euthanasia via appeal to Aquinas\u2019 Doctrine of Double Effect. In this essay, I will appraise the empirical evidence regarding opioid\/sedative use and survival time, and argue for a position of agnosticism. I will then argue that the Doctrine of Double Effect is a useful ethical tool but is ultimately not a sound ethical principle, and even if it were, it is unclear whether palliative opioid\/sedative use satisfy its four criteria. Although this essay does not establish any definitive proofs, it aims to provide reasons to doubt\u2014and therefore weaken\u2014the often-claimed ethical distinction between euthanasia and palliative opioid\/sedative use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Riisfeldt TD. Weakening the ethical distinction between euthanasia, palliative opioid use and palliative sedation. <\/a> J Med Ethics 2019;45:125-130. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thomas David Riisfeldt AbstractOpioid and sedative use are common \u2018active\u2019 practices in the provision of mainstream palliative care services, and are typically distinguished from euthanasia on the basis that they do not shorten survival time. Even supposing that they did, it is often argued that they are justified and distinguished from euthanasia via appeal to … Continue reading “Weakening the ethical distinction between euthanasia, palliative opioid use and palliative sedation”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[554,14,2,1135,630],"tags":[432],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-8949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ethics","category-euthanasia","category-journal-article","category-palliative-care","category-sedation","tag-thomas-david-riisfeldt"],"yoast_head":"\r\nWeakening the ethical distinction between euthanasia, palliative opioid use and palliative sedation - Protection of Conscience Project Library<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are reasons to doubt\u2014and therefore weaken\u2014the 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