CHECK NRW #3

Society
Name Treatment Current legal situation
Palliative
medicine
It is not intended to cure an illness, but to
alleviate suffering. It is mostly used at the
end of life in hospices with the aim of combating
pain and symptoms such as shortness
of breath, fear or nausea. Psychological,
social and spiritual care are also part of it.
Indirect
euthanasia
Passive
euthanasia
Assisted suicide
This is understood as palliative treatment,
which as a side effect could shorten the
patient‘s life. This form of euthanasia must
be medically indicated, i.e. recognized as
necessary.
Treatment to control a disease is stopped or
not started at all.
A lethal drug is left with or provided to the
patient, which is then taken by the patient
himself.
Allowed and required as
long as it is in accordance
with the express will of the
patient.
Allowed and required as
long as it is in accordance
with the express will of the
patient.
Prohibited under professional
law, but not punishable
by law.
Active euthanasia
/ killing on
request
At the patient‘s express request, lethal
agents are “actively” administered.
This form of euthanasia is not medically indicated,
so it is not recognized as necessary.
Prohibited and punishable
by professional law.
by this sentence is "I will never give a woman
an abortion drug either."
Our cultural understanding of medicine puts
life above everything. However, self-determination
is often neglected. There is no question
that the decision to have an abortion ultimately
rests with the person who is responsible for
the birth. In that case the mother. And when it
comes to dying, the right to decide should rest
with those who die.
For these and other reasons, the ban on
commercial euthanasia was overturned by
the German Federal Constitutional Court in
February 2020. The reason: the general right of
personality also includes the right to self-determined
death. A new set of rules on how to
implement this right has not yet been decided.
NEW TIMES NEED NEW REGULATIONS
As a society we are at a critical point. Unlike a
hundred years ago, we largely determine how
we live our own lives. We can choose our own
profession, partner, life concept, and identity.
At the moment, however, others decide how
we die because we are in a legal gray area.
Various bills are currently being examined,
such as that of Renate Künast and Katja Keul
(Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen). Accordingly, those
willing to die should be given "controlled
access" to the narcotics required for this.
At the same time, a second medical opinion
should be regularly obtained, procedures for
ensuring self-determination should be introduced
and protection against abuse should be
CHECK NRW #3
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