Voluntary Assisted Dying

Ruth E Board

ISBN 10: 1739427025 / ISBN 13: 9781739427023

Published by Evidence-Based Networks Ltd, GB, 2025

About this Item

Cancer treatment has advanced remarkably, offering hope andextending life for many. But with these advances, clinicians and policymakersare increasingly faced with the complex and challenging questions surroundingend-of-life care. How can we ensure the highest quality of life for patientswith relapsed disease? What does a well-informed dialogue on assisted dyinglook like, and who should guide it?For healthcare professionals, legislators, and the widerpublic, navigating these choices requires the most current and accurateinformation. The updated edition of a previous volume End of Life Choicesfor Cancer Patients provides a crucial resource for this evolvinglandscape.Building on the 2020 edition, this book assembles amulti-professional team of contributors-experts in oncology, palliative care,law, and allied health professions. They offer a balanced, evidence-basedexploration of modern end-of-life care, focusing on patient needs,international developments, and the far-reaching implications of legislativechange.Inside, you will find:* Updated information and insights reflectingrecent parliamentary considerations on Assisted Dying in the UK.* An exploration of the multifacetedresponsibilities of healthcare professionals in guiding patients throughdifficult end-of-life decisions.* A clear distinction between the roles of medicalexpertise and social opinion in shaping public policy on assisted dying, asdefined by a 2019 expert workshop.* Context for legislative debates, equippingprofessionals and the public with the facts needed for a balanced and informeddiscussion.This is more than a book; it is an essential tool forprofessional colleagues, legislators, and concerned citizens alike, offeringclarity and support in one of the most challenging areas of modern medicine.This guide will ensure your practice, your policies, and your understanding aregrounded in the latest evidence.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781739427023

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Voluntary Assisted Dying
• Publisher: Evidence-Based Networks Ltd, GB
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1739427025
• ISBN 13: 9781739427023
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 2nd ed.
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

This is a clear, balanced overview of international experience with Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). It draws on medical literature, government reports, and official data from around the world to help inform public and professional discussion. It updates work conducted and published in 2020 in the book End of Life Choices for Cancer Patients.

More than 280 million people live in countries where some form of assisted dying is legal. International evidence shows that with clear rules, strong safeguards, and professional support, VAD can be provided safely and respectfully. Across all jurisdictions, strong regulation, adequate resources, and professional training are essential. Continuous oversight and transparency remain crucial. Doctors, nurses, and allied professionals must have access to training, supervision, and the ability to opt out on grounds of conscience.

Assisted dying raises difficult moral and emotional issues for healthcare staff. Even in countries with long experience, many professionals find participation challenging. Some now specialise in VAD to manage the ethical and technical complexities. All agree that high-quality palliative care remains essential. Most patients who choose VAD have already received palliative care but want control over the timing and nature of death. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as motor neurone disease, need special planning because of the risk of losing mental or physical capacity before a decision can be acted on.

For countries like the UK who are deciding whether to change the law, much can be learned from decades of international experience and evidence - especially from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and parts of Europe - to design a system that protects vulnerable people, pays attention to the views and needs of disabled and disadvantaged people, respects those with ethical or religious objections, supports healthcare professionals, and respects individual choice.