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Patients who are being kept alive by technology and want to end their lives already have a recognized constitutional right to stop any and all medical interventions, from respirators to antibiotics. They do not need physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Ezekiel Emanuel
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote discusses the autonomy of patients in deciding to end medical interventions that prolong life.

Ezekiel Emanuel's quote emphasizes the existing constitutional rights of patients to refuse medical treatments that artificially prolong their lives. It argues that the ability to stop invasive medical interventions, such as respirators or antibiotics, offers patients sufficient autonomy without the need for physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia, ultimately highlighting the importance of personal choice in matters of life and death.

Themes

AutonomyPatientsMedical InterventionTechnologyEuthanasia

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about patient rights in a healthcare conference.

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