The intention to hasten death   of terminally ill patients

Piercy, Mathew; Fogarty, Gerald B; Jansz, Aubrey W; Gawler, David M; Vitetta, Luis; Kenner, David; Sali, Avni

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04714.x

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To the Editor: The study by Douglas et al1 reports that the purposeful hastening of death in terminal illness is both widely practised and an acceptable method of palliative care for over a third of Australian surgeons.

Correspondence: mepiercy@idx.com.au

1. Douglas CD, Kerridge IH, Rainbird KJ, et al. The intention to hasten death: a survey of attitudes and practices of surgeons in Australia. Med J Aust 2001; 175: 511-515. <eMJA full text>
2. Douglas CD, Kerridge IH, Rainbird KJ, et al. The intention to hasten death: a survey of attitudes and practices of surgeons in Australia. Med J Aust 2001; 175: 511-515. <eMJA full text>
3. Ray JB. Pharmacologic management of pain: the surgeon's responsibility. Surg Oncol Clin North Am 2000; 10: 71-87.
4. Chochinov HM, Wilson KG, Enns M, et al. Desire for death in the terminally ill. Am J Psychiatry. 1995; 152: 1185-1191.
5. Back AL, Wallace JI, et al. Physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in Washington State. Patient requests and physician responses. JAMA 1996; 275: 919-925.
6. Vitetta L, Kenner D, Kissane D, Sali A. Clinical outcomes in terminally ill patients admitted to hospice care: diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. J Palliat Care 2001; 17: 69-77.

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