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| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
It also gets tricky in cases where the patient wants to die but does not actually have the power to kill himself. Should medical personnel or family members be legally forced to kill such a patient for the sake of "honoring the right to die?"
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Yeah, I think using the word "forced" detracts from what a physician's duty actually is, and implies the consideration of personal values and beliefs. Physicians are seen as obligated to achieve the best possible health care outcome based on the 4 principles of bioethics - autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. I don't see what any of that has to do with one's personal beliefs on the matter.
Again, autonomy takes precedence. It is the foundation of current patient care. Not saying that makes it black and white...but I mean, how the physician feels about it is irrelevant.
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