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Comment
. 2017 Oct;211(4):248-249.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.117.199695.

Invited commentary on … When unbearable suffering incites psychiatric patients to request euthanasia

Brendan D Kelly  1
Affiliations
Comment

Invited commentary on … When unbearable suffering incites psychiatric patients to request euthanasia

Brendan D Kelly. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Euthanasia is available in Belgium and Luxembourg for untreatable and unbearable suffering resulting from 'physical and/or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated and results from a serious and incurable disease, caused by accident or illness'. Verhofstadt et al's valuable analysis of testimonials from psychiatric patients requesting euthanasia demonstrates that elements of this suffering might well be alleviated. We should not kill our patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interestNone.

Comment in

  • Where is the argument for the conceptual slippery slope?
    Clifford JM. Clifford JM. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Dec;211(6):397. doi: 10.1192/bjp.211.6.397. Br J Psychiatry. 2017. PMID: 29196397 No abstract available.
  • Author's reply.
    Kelly BD. Kelly BD. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Dec;211(6):397. doi: 10.1192/bjp.211.6.397a. Br J Psychiatry. 2017. PMID: 29196398 No abstract available.

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