Dysthanasia
In medicine, dysthanasia means "bad death"[1] and is considered a common fault of modern medicine.[2]
Dysthanasia occurs when a person who is dying has their biological life extended through technological means without regard to the person's quality of life.[3] Technologies such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator,[4] artificial ventilation, ventricular assist devices, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can extend the dying process.
Dysthanasia is a term generally used when a person is seen to be kept alive artificially in a condition where, otherwise, they cannot survive; sometimes for some sort of ulterior motive.[citation needed] The term was used frequently in the investigation into the death of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna in 1994.[citation needed]
The etymology of the term is from the Greek language: δυσ, dus; "bad, difficult" + θάνατος, thanatos; "death".
See also
References
- ^ Kothari, M; Mehta, L; Kothari, V (2000). "Cause of death--so-called designed event acclimaxing timed happenings". Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. 46 (1): 43–51. PMID 10855082.
- ^ Batchelor, A; Jenal, L; Kapadia, F; Streat, S; Whetstine, L; Woodcock, B (2003). "Ethics roundtable debate: Should a sedated dying patient be wakened to say goodbye to family?". Critical Care. 7 (5): 335–8. doi:10.1186/cc2329. PMC 270714. PMID 12974961.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|displayauthors=ignored (|display-authors=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ de Menezes, MB; Selli, L; de Souza, AJ (August 2009). "Dysthanasia: Nursing professionals' perception". Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem. 17 (4): 443–8. doi:10.1590/S0104-11692009000400002. PMID 19820848.
- ^ Kaufman, SR; Mueller, PS; Ottenberg, AL; Koenig, BA (2011). "Ironic technology: Old age and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator in US health care". Social Science & Medicine. 72 (1): 6–14. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.09.052. PMC 3032945. PMID 21126815.
Further reading
- Corke, C; Silvester, W; Bellomo, R (December 2010). "Avoiding nosocomial dysthanasia and promoting eleothanasia" (PDF). Critical Care and Resuscitation (Editorial). 12 (4): 221–2. PMID 21143080.
