[Euthanasia: is this the law we need?]

Abstract

The Spanish Euthanasia Law introduces a new right that is added to the portfolio of services provided by the Spanish health system and whose application is guaranteed within a period of 40 days. From the perspective of clinical experience, it is argued that without the effective right to quality palliative care and given the current shortcomings in dependant care, this law may send a threatening message to particularly fragile and dependant individuals that will lead to them feeling like a burden to their families and society. It is reasoned that basing the right to die on the dignity of the individual may have unexpected social repercussions. The text of the law presents the flaws of having been written hastily and without the support of advisory entities. There are issues that require clarification with regard to the application of euthanasia within the context of general practice. The conclusion is that this new law will pose more problems of the type it aims to resolve.

Keywords: Assisted suicide; Bioethics; Bioética; Cuidados paliativos; Eutanasia; Euthanasia; General practice; Medicina de familia; Palliative care; Suicidio asistido.

Figura 1

La agonía de la consulesa. Los Buddenbrook de Thomas Mann.

Figura 2

Puntos clave de una Ley de Cuidados Paliativos.

Figura 3

Fases y tiempos para la petición y ejecución de la prestación de ayuda a morir (propuesta de Ley 122/000020)^a. ^a Esquema aplicable a la petición de ayuda para morir por parte de una persona mayor de edad, con capacidad de derecho y de hecho reconocida. ^b Este periodo entre ambas PPAM puede reducirse en los casos excepcionales de muerte o pérdida de capacidad inminentes apreciados por el/la médico/a responsable. ^c Este paso puede ser obviado en los casos excepcionales de muerte o pérdida de capacidad inminentes apreciados por el/la médico/a responsable, pasando a ser evaluada la PAM por la CEC.