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Difference Between Hospice and Assisted Death
Hospice and assisted death are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different. Hospice is a medical specialty that focuses on providing comfort care and support to terminally ill patients and their families. Assisted death, on the other hand, refers to the intentional termination of life with the assistance of a medical professional. The key difference between hospice and assisted death is that hospice seeks to alleviate pain and provide comfort during the natural dying process, while assisted death is a deliberate act to end life.
What is Hospice?
Hospice care is a specialized form of healthcare that provides comprehensive medical and supportive care to patients who are facing terminal illnesses. The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of life for patients and their families by managing pain, providing emotional support, and helping them to maintain their dignity and independence. Hospice care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals who work together to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
Hospice care may be given inside an institution or within the person’s home. The services often focus on symptomatic care, easing pain, and overall alleviating suffering. Other services include attending to the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient. Related to hospice care is palliative care, although palliative care services are done while treatment is ongoing; on the other hand, hospice care is done when treatment has already been discontinued. Also related is palliative sedation, which puts the patient in a state of sedation moments before death.
Hospice care can trace its history back to Greek and Roman times and is pretty well defined in the various modern forms it takes throughout the world. Hospice care was first introduced into legislation in the United States in the year 1974, although this legislation was not passed. However, throughout the years, hospice care has gained widespread acceptance.
What is Assisted Death?
Assisted death, on the other hand, is a controversial topic that involves intentionally ending a person's life to relieve their suffering. Assisted death is only legal in a few countries, including Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In these countries, the practice is heavily regulated and requires strict criteria to be met before it can be performed.
Assisted death is all about dying on one’s own terms but is very limited in scope and definition. Proponents of assisted death reserve this option only for those who are going to die, meaning there is a high probability for death within some specified timeframe. Also, the act is done by the person themselves. Assisted death is differentiated from the related term assisted suicide which is available to those who are suffering in some way, but not necessarily on the verge of death.
Another related term is euthanasia, colloquially termed mercy-killing, where the patient is suffering and close to death, gives voluntary permission for someone else to end the life.
Assisted death is quite a new term emerging from the concepts of euthanasia. Euthanasia and assisted suicide were first legalized in the Netherlands in 2002. Other countries and parts of certain countries have varying laws as to who can end their life on their own terms, resulting in the coining and differentiation of these three terms.
Differences: Hospice and Assisted Death
The main difference between hospice care and assisted death is that hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support during the natural dying process, while assisted death is a deliberate act to end life. Hospice care is designed to allow patients to die with dignity and comfort, while assisted death is an active intervention aimed at ending suffering.
Another important distinction between hospice care and assisted death is that hospice care is a patient-centered approach that involves collaboration between the patient, their family, and the healthcare team. The patient's wishes and preferences are central to the care plan, and the team works to ensure that the patient's needs are met in a way that honors their values and beliefs. In contrast, assisted death is a medical procedure that is performed by a healthcare professional at the request of the patient. The decision to undergo assisted death is typically made by the patient alone, without input from family members or healthcare providers.
The following table highlights the major differences between Hospice and Assisted Death −
Characteristics |
Hospice |
Assisted Death |
|---|---|---|
Definition |
Hospice is a service for the humane treatment and care for the dying for the remainder of their natural life. |
Assisted death is a service for the dying to end their life at the moment and method of their own choosing. |
Purpose and “Dignity in Death” |
Through hospice care, “dignity in death” is achieved by not suffering too much and still having a good quality of life for its remainder |
With assisted death, “dignity in death” means not having to suffer needlessly and also to spare relatives and friends from some sort of suffering as well. |
Choice and Control |
By choosing hospice care, a patient basically chooses life, controlling as best one could, the quality of life, and letting the illness dictate the moment of dying. |
With assisted dying, the choice is death, controlling the moment and method of death. |
Related Terms |
Hospice care is related to palliative care and palliative sedation. |
Assisted dying is related to euthanasia and assisted suicide. |
Restrictions |
Hospice care is available to patients of all ages, children, and adults alike. |
Assisted dying is only available to terminally ill adults with the mental capacity to decide. |
In History and Legislation |
Hospice care has a long history and widespread acceptance. It was first introduced into legislation in the United States in 1974 although the legislation did not pass. Euthanasia and its other forms were first legalized in the Netherlands in 2002. |
The concepts of euthanasia, assisted suicide, and assisted dying still face some opposing views in less liberal countries. |
Availability throughout the world |
Hospice care is available in one form or another throughout the world. |
Assisted dying and its related terms are only available in the more liberal parts of the world like Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, parts of the United States of America, and Australia. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, hospice care and assisted death are two distinct approaches to end-of-life care. Hospice care is a patient-centered approach that focuses on providing comfort and support during the natural dying process. Assisted death, on the other hand, is a controversial practice that involves intentionally ending a person's life to relieve their suffering.
While both approaches seek to alleviate suffering, they are fundamentally different in their approach and goals. It is important for healthcare providers and families to understand the differences between hospice care and assisted death so that they can make informed decisions about end-of-life care.
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