This book deals with medical responses to explicitly expressed requests for assistance and support with regard to wishes for death by people, more precisely the relations from the viewpoint of... Show moreThis book deals with medical responses to explicitly expressed requests for assistance and support with regard to wishes for death by people, more precisely the relations from the viewpoint of patients and physicians as well as the state__s approach to the topic. The question regarding the extent to which this triad of physician, patient and state can be brought together when it concerns the matter of responding (or not responding) to a wish for death is covered. Furthermore, the question is clarified as to why the laws of the countries around the world prohibit by overwhelming majority the termination of a person__s life by another person, when in this connection it ostensibly involves the fulfilment of protective obligations. The existing situation with regard to active responses to wishes for death by patients is described by means of an international comparison between Germany, The Netherlands and Canada. The objective is to illustrate benefits as well as potential dangers which desired wishes for death entail. Show less
