Medicine and Science from The BMJ

The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

Apr 23, 2025
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INSIGHT

Challenges of Six-Month Prognosis

  • Predicting a six-month prognosis for assisted dying eligibility is clinically very difficult.
  • Illness trajectories involve ups and downs, making precise timing uncertain.
INSIGHT

Prognosis Biases in Assisted Dying

  • Doctors tend to give prognosis with optimism, often overestimating survival time.
  • Assisted dying legislation might pressure clinicians to underestimate prognosis to meet criteria.
INSIGHT

Beyond Medical Terminality

  • Many seeking assisted dying are driven by unbearable suffering beyond terminal illness.
  • Social and psychological factors often influence decisions, not just medical terminality.
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