Question

List at least three safeguards to consider when developing policy on assisted death.

Answer 1

Assisted death is a safe, compassionate choice for the individual facing the prospect of horrific death. Assisted death and euthanasia are different. Many countries consider assisted death also to be illegal like euthanasia. Therefore, its important to apply safeguards when developing policy on assisted death. These safeguards are:

• Consent: The decision of assisted death is entirely of the patient or the individual. The individual should be of sound mind who expresses his or her willingness to die and requests a dose of medication that will end his or her life. Therefore the legal consent is signed by individual seeking assisted death to prevent any further legal implications on health care providers.
• Eligibility: Once the request for assisted death is submitted, the physician waits for a specific time before he declare him or her to be eligible to receive assisted death. The physician has to make a psychiatric evaluation in order to confirm that the person is making decision by his or her own. The physician also takes wait some more period to say if he or she is eligible to receive drugs or not.
• Residency: This evaluation of patient condition is confirmed by two physicians. The written consent also has to be witnessed by two different people, one of which cannot be a family member.