Does palliative sedation produce an ethical resolution to avoid the demand for euthanasia in a Muslim Country?

DOI

10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_105_18

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-1-2018

Publication Title

Indian Journal of Palliative Care

Volume

24

Issue

4

First Page

537

Last Page

544

ISSN

9731075

Keywords

Euthanasia, Islam, palliative sedation, Turkey

Abstract

One of the major purposes of palliative sedation is to reduce demand for euthanasia. The present paper analyzes a grievous case which demonstrates the killing of a 23-year-old son by his father due to the son's unbearable pain resulting from metastatic colorectal cancer. The article aimed to elaborate the case to figure out whether palliative sedation can be an alternative to euthanasia in a Muslim country. Nevertheless, the analysis of these two end-of-life issues revealed that the limitation of palliative sedation to an expected lifespan of less than 2 weeks as well as the Islamic view on the importance of protecting consciousness preclude reaching a conclusion that palliative sedation can be an alternative to euthanasia in this particular case. Furthermore, in such cases, the primary problem may be the lack of adequate and appropriate palliative care services, rather than the need for euthanasia or palliative sedation.

Open Access

Green Final

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