Articles: palliative-care.
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It is possible that a physician who administers life-shortening palliative care, even to a terminally ill patient with the patient's consent, commits murder. The Law Reform Commission of Canada, as part of its proposals on recodifying criminal law, has recommended that criminal liability not attach to the administration of life-shortening palliative care "appropriate in the circumstances". The author submits that while the aim of the Commission's recommendation is good, the phrase "appropriate in the circumstances" should be replaced with more specific criteria for determining when life-shortening palliative care may be administered. Failure to do so would leave physicians in almost as uncertain a situation as is presently the case, preventing them from administering such care without fear of criminal liability.
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J Contemp Health Law Policy · Jan 1990
Rejecting criminal liability for life-shortening palliative care.
Is it possible that a physician who administers life-shortening palliative care, even to a terminally ill patient with the patient's consent, commits murder? The Law Reform Commission of Canada, as part of its proposals on recodifying criminal law, has recommended that criminal liability not attach to the administration of life-shortening palliative care "appropriate in the circumstances." The author submits that while the aim of the Commission's recommendation is good, the phrase "appropriate in the circumstances" should be replaced with more specific criteria for determining when life-shortening palliative care may be administered. Failure to do so would leave physicians in almost as uncertain a situation as is presently the case, preventing them from administering such care without fear of criminal liability.
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The treatment of pain in patients with terminal cancer of the head and neck is discussed. The treatment must be tailored to the individual patient and should use oral agents if possible. ⋯ Neuroleptics are important adjuvant analgesics, which have proved to be particularly valuable for more severe pain in head and neck cancer. This treatment can be carried out either in hospital or in domiciliary practice.