RIGHT TO DIE--LAW AND LEGISLATION---Safeguards to prevent premature death

SAFEGUARDS FOR LIFE-ENDING DECISIONS

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SAFEGUARDS FOR THE RIGHT-TO-DIE

SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT PREMATURE DEATH

SAFEGUARDS FOR MEDICAL DECISIONS AT THE END OF LIFE

THE RIGHT-TO-DIE—SAFEGUARDS FOR WISE DECISION-MAKING

MEDICAL DECISION-MAKING AT THE END OF LIFE—SAFEGUARDS

RIGHT-TO-DIE LEGISLATION—SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT MISTAKES AND ABUSES

THE MEANING OF THE EXPRESSION "LIFE-ENDING DECISIONS"

A life-ending decision is any choice that is reasonable expected
to lead to the death of the patient within a few days.
The broader expression "end-of-life choices"
includes all forms of terminal care,
including attempting to keep the patient alive as long as possible.

Here are five examples of life-ending decisions:

1. increasing pain-medication with the knowledge
that the drugs will probably shorten the process of dying.
Pain-relief is the primary purpose.
But it should be explained to everyone
that these drugs will (as a secondary side-effect)
shorten the number of days this patient has left.
This life-ending decision is also called "comfort-care only".

2. induced terminal coma—using appropriate drugs
with the intention of keeping the patient unconscious until death occurs.
Since a patient in a coma cannot drink or eat normally,
water and food (provided by any means) are also usually withdrawn.
This life-ending decision is also called "terminal sedation".

3. ending treatments and life-support systems
—discontinuing all medical treatments
and disconnecting all tubes and machines
that were intended to treat the disease or condition
and/or to keep the patient alive.
Comfort-care should continue as long as the patient is conscious.

4. Voluntary dehydration
—giving up all fluids with the knowledge that death will follow.
While the patient is conscious and capable of making medical decisions,
this choice is made by the patient.
When the patient is no longer conscious or capable,
the choice is made by the duly-authorized proxies.
Or the proxies will re-affirm the choice for voluntary dehydration
originally made by the patient.

5. Drugs to achieve a peaceful and painless death.
In some jurisdictions, doctors are authorized
to prescribe life-ending chemicals
for the explicit purpose of bringing death.
Sometimes the patient must take the drugs himself or herself.
Under other regulations, doctors can administer a lethal injection.

If you would like to read more extensive discussion
of the first four legal methods, go to:
"Four Medical Methods of Managing Death":
https://s3.amazonaws.com/aws-website-jamesleonardpark---freelibrary-3puxk/CY-L-END.html

How to Die: Safeguard for Life-Ending Decisions

This 600+-page book explores all dimensions
of applying wise safeguards to end-of-life choices.
Some of the items below have become chapters in this book.
The above link is the table of contents,
which links to each item in the book.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD SAFEGUARDS FOR LIFE-ENDING DECISIONS

OPEN SAFEGUARDS KEPT PRIVATE

ONE MILLIONS CHOSEN DEATHS PER YEAR?

AN ORGANIZED CATALOG OF PROPOSED SAFEGUARDS

FAMILY USE OF RIGHT-TO-DIE SAFEGUARDS

A CATALOG OF WORRIES, PROBLEMS,
DANGERS, PERILS, ABUSES, & MISTAKES
POSSIBLE UNDER ANY SYSTEM PERMITTING CHOSEN DEATH

THE MOST COMMON SAFEGUARDS
EMBRACED BY THE RIGHT-TO-DIE MOVEMENT

TEN SAFEGUARDS FOR LIFE-ENDING DECISIONS

SAFEGUARDS EMBRACED BY CRITICS OF THE RIGHT-TO-DIE

SAFEGUARDS AS FOUND IN VARIOUS LAWS AND PROPOSED LAWS

ADVANTAGES OF THE PREMATURE-DEATH APPROACH
TO THE RIGHT-TO-DIE

ENLIGHTENED PROSECUTORS CAN LEAD THE WAY
TOWARD BETTER END-OF-LIFE DECISION-MAKING

THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
PUBLISHES GUIDELINES FOR PROSECUTING 'ASSISTING SUICIDE'

BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF BOOKS RELEVANT TO
SAFEGUARDS FOR LIFE-ENDING DECISIONS

Books on Safeguards for Life-Ending Decisions

Books on Medical Futility

Books on Definitions of Death

Best Books on Voluntary Death

Best Books on Preparing for Death

Books on Terminal Care

Books on Helping Patients to Die

Books Supporting the Right-to-Die

Books Opposing the Right-to-Die

Created October 2006, revised several times during November 2006;
revised 1-2-2007; 2-9-2007; 2-23-2007; 5-31-2007; 8-22-2007; 9-2-2007; 12-31-2007;
1-6-2008; 1-22-2008; 2-2-2008; 2-14-2008; 3-1-2008; 8-24-2008;
1-14-2010; 2-4-2010; 5-12-2010; 5-14-2010;
1-19-2011; 2-13-2011; 1-11-2012; 3-4-2012; 4-6-2012; 5-16-2015; 12-13-2018; 1-13-2020;

This website is not affiliated with any end-of-life organizations.
Thus, people involved in any such organizations are welcome to participate.

Go to the Right-to-Die Portal.

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James Leonard Park—Free Library