從現行法律與醫學倫理探討安樂死合法之可能性

The Possibility of Legislation for Euthanasia from Perspectives in Existing Law and Medical Ethic

林淳宏(Chun-Hung Lin) ； 黃惠滿(Hui-Man Huang) ； 高家常(Chia-Chan Kao)

《台灣健康照顧研究學刊》 6期 (2009/03) Pp. 79+81-93

https://doi.org/10.29750/TJTHCA.200903.0005

摘要

安樂死是醫學倫理中備受關注的課題，本文就現行法律與醫學倫理觀點探討安樂死合法之可能性。首先，以國外安樂死案例介紹合法性受爭議的三個議題；次以安樂死之概念，及其肯定論對否定論其支持與否之論述；第三，就國內、外立法現況，討論基於生命權利，病人是否有選擇死亡的權利；第四，討論安樂死的刑法評價、安樂死與殺人罪之差異，及除罪合法之可能性；第五，論述誰可代為決定安樂死、決定主體為家屬之利弊，及決定之依循原則。最後，提出本文之主張：就醫護界觀點，如何確認安樂死病人自主意願的行使範圍，以及就法律觀點，何以安樂死須立法規範，以因應日益增加的難題。

關鍵字

安樂死 ； 生存權 ； 生命權 ； 自主原則

並列摘要

Euthanasia is an ethic dilemma in the clinical practice. This article focuses on the existing Law in Taiwan and medical ethic in order to discuss the possibility of legislation for euthanasia. First, three standpoints of euthanasia are presented using foreign examples. Second, the definition of euthanasia and two distinct standpoints in the medical practice are described. Third, patients' right of living is discussed based on both the foreign law and the existing Law in Taiwan. Fourth, differentiating euthanasia from killing crime by channeling the legal doctrine on the Criminal Law is argued, particularly in the possibility of illegality. Fifth, families' decision to euthanasia and which principles must be followed are discussed. Taken together, this article proposes: the principles to reach patients' willing to undertake euthanasia procedure in medical practice; and an appropriate legislation for euthanasia procedure are necessary for this changing era.

並列關鍵字

euthanasia ； survival right ； right of living ； autonom