physicianassisted

Physician-assisted describes the involvement of a physician in a patient’s end-of-life decision, most often referring to the provision of means for a patient to hasten death after a request that is voluntary and informed. It typically implies that the patient self-administers the agent, distinguishing it from euthanasia where the physician directly administers a lethal dose. Outside end-of-life contexts, physician involvement might include consultations, prognostic information, or facilitating palliative choices, but the term is most commonly used in discussions of assisted dying or medical aid in dying.

Legal status varies by jurisdiction. Some regions permit physician-assisted dying under strict safeguards, while others prohibit it. In parts of North America and Europe, laws require that the patient be terminal or have intolerable, refractory suffering, have decision-making capacity, make a voluntary request, and obtain multiple assessments by independent clinicians, with waiting periods and documentation. In practice, access may be limited by geographic or social barriers, and ongoing debates address risk of coercion, capacity assessment, and the role of palliative care.

Ethical and professional considerations include balancing patient autonomy with physician duty to preserve life, assessing mental competence, avoiding coercion, and ensuring informed consent. Critics raise concerns about vulnerable populations, the potential for normalizing death as a medical option, and the adequacy of alternatives such as palliative care. Proponents emphasize relief of suffering and patient choice.

See also: euthanasia, medical assistance in dying, palliative care, living will, advance directive.