不给予或撤除生命维持干预与安乐死、消极安乐死的概念辨析

Distinguishing between Withholding or Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Interventions and Concepts of Euthanasia,Passive Euthanasia:A Conceptual Analysis

不给予或撤除生命维持干预是临床实践中常见且棘手的伦理学问题。该问题的讨论应建立在清晰的概念之上,但不给予或撤除生命维持干预常与安乐死、消极安乐死和尊严死等概念混淆,引发误解。重新定义安乐死和消极安乐死具有理论和现实的紧迫性。基于汤姆•比彻姆和阿诺德•戴维森提出的安乐死定义,提出消极安乐死的定义。基于该定义,认为不给予或撤除生命维持干预与消极安乐死为交叉关系。鉴于安乐死概念的争议及其富含的感情色彩,强调讨论生命维持干预的使用时应区分事实与价值,并建议慎用或弃用安乐死与消极安乐死。

Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining interventions is a common and sensitive ethical issue in medical practice.Discussion should be based on clear definitions,but the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining interventions is often confused with euthanasia,passive euthanasia and death with dignity,leading to misunderstandings.There is a theoretical and practical need to redefine euthanasia,passive euthanasia.This paper proposes a definition of passive euthanasia based on the definition of euthanasia proposed by Tom Beauchamp and Arnold Davidson.This paper argues that withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining interventions and passive euthanasia are conceptually overlapping.Given the controversy over the concept of euthanasia and its emotional implications,this paper emphasizes the significance of distinguishing between facts and values when discussing the use of life-sustaining interventions and suggests that euthanasia and passive euthanasia should be used with caution or should be abandoned if necessary.