Fatal Choices and Flawed Decisions at the End-of-Life: Lessons from Israel

Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 578-594, Autumn 2011

29 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2011 Last revised: 8 Oct 2018

See all articles by Raphael Cohen-Almagor

Raphael Cohen-Almagor

University of Hull; Middle East Study Centre; Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Date Written: November 10, 2011

Abstract

The article opens by presenting a recent disconcerting event that took place at a rehabilitative nursing home in Tel Aviv. Next I will discuss the Dying Patient Law which came into effect in 2005. I will then move on to probe the double effect doctrine as it is relevant to the case at hand, and the role of the medical profession and of the family in making decisions at the end of life. It is argued that patients who express a wish to die should receive a comprehensive care addressing their physical and mental condition before rushing to provide lethal medication. Medicine is a healing profession, a caring profession. I conclude by offering some guidelines to help practitioners address the intricate questions they face when patients ask to die.

Keywords: Israel Dying Patient Law, nursing home, care, communication, palliation, double effect, family, patient’s best interests

JEL Classification: Z700

Suggested Citation

Cohen-Almagor, Raphael and Cohen-Almagor, Raphael, Fatal Choices and Flawed Decisions at the End-of-Life: Lessons from Israel (November 10, 2011). Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 578-594, Autumn 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1957691

Raphael Cohen-Almagor (Contact Author)

University of Hull ( email )

Cottingham Road
Hull, Great Britain HU6 7RX
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.hull.ac.uk/faculties/staff-profiles/raphael-cohen-almagor.aspx

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars ( email )

One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004
United States

Middle East Study Centre ( email )

Cottingham Road
Hull, HU6 7RX
United Kingdom
0044-1482 465024 (Phone)
0044-1482-466208 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://hcc.haifa.ac.il/~rca

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