Assisted dying and conflict of interest
Hug, G.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 127(3): 79-81
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 9064752 Document Number: 482792
A Swiss physician obtained his elderly patient's house, valued at 2 million, as a gift. The patient retained the right to stay in the house until her death. The physician also knew that she had made him the beneficiary of her estate, valued at 10 million. She then died of untreated pneumonia while in his care. He had not discussed withholding of antibiotics with her or her family. In countries with advanced life-sustaining technology, 35% of all deaths are thought to occur after withholding of treatment. Physicians and others making such "MDEL" (medical decisions concerning the end of life) have a conflict of interest, if they benefit from their patients' death. These conflicts are unethical. They are dangerous to patients, physicians, the medical profession, and the public. The Netherlands have laws and rules of professional conduct that prohibit MDEL-for-profit, i.e., a mode of assisted dying that benefits caregivers to the detriment of patients and their families.