安樂死（尊嚴死）的可行性探討：立法例歷史沿革與醫界挑戰之觀點

Euthanasia in the Western Countries: A Review of the Legislation and Challenges to the Medical Practice

鄭慧文(Hui-Wen Cheng)

《國家政策季刊》 1卷2期 (2002/12) Pp. 159-178

https://doi.org/10.6407/NPQ.200212.0159

摘要

現階段有關安樂死的立法討論，對符合申請安樂死要件的病人規定包括：「成年」、「意識清楚」、「具有自主意願表達之能力」，方能在道德爭議及社會衝擊較小的狀況下，提出符合法律規範形式的自願安樂死之申請。
本文將從文獻回顧的方式，從醫界的觀點就各國的安樂死立法例的歷史沿革（澳洲、荷蘭、美國、比利時、台灣）進行了解；並對照奧勒岡、比利時的臨終病患之求死意願及死亡方式調查，就自願安樂死病人的要件，進行探討。本文亦從醫學倫理、病患權利、醫師職責的角度，及醫學會的立場，建議設置安樂死評估小組的必要性。本文所反映的安樂死觀點雖可視為西方價值觀之陳述，但亦可作為我國探討安樂死議題之對話基礎。

關鍵字

安樂死 ； 尊嚴死 ； 安寧療護 ； 醫學倫理 ； 人權 ； 生命品質

並列摘要

To avoid hot moral debate and social impact at the present time, most of the legal opinions of euthanasia suggest that adult, clear consciousness and capable to express one's own will are the three minimum requirements for euthanasia candidates. We retrospectively did the literature review on this subject with the special interests from the medical point of view on the legislative progress from Australia, Holland, U.S., Belgian and Taiwan. The results from a study on the end-of-life decisions on the voluntary euthanasia and the corresponding death medical practice on Oregon and Belgium were evaluated. We discussed this topic from the standpoint of medical ethics, patient's right, physician's attitude and medical associations and suggest the necessity of setting up an assessment committee for the euthanasia candidates. This article reflects only the western philosophical values on euthanasia and not totally in agreement with eastern philosophical values. However, it does provide us with a dialogue for future discussion.

並列關鍵字

Euthanasia ； Death with Dignity ； Hospice/Palliative Care ； Medical Ethics ； Human Right ； Quality of Life