The problem of prognostication in assisted dying. episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 23, 2025 · 30 MIN

The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

from Medicine and Science from The BMJ · host The BMJ

The UK government is debating legislation to allow assisted dying in England and Wales, which puts doctors at the forefront of deciding if their patient will be eligible for a medically assisted death - the key criteria being a 6 month prognosis. But is making a 6 month prognosis actually clinically reliable? To discuss we're joined by a panel of experts on end of life; Scott Murray, emeritus professor of primary palliative care at the University of Edinburgh Simon Etkind, assistant professor of palliative care at the University of Cambridge Nancy Preston, professor of supportive and palliative care, Lancaster University Suzanne Ost, professor of law, Lancaster University Reading list Assisted dying and the difficulties of predicting end of life Breaching the stalemate on assisted dying: it’s time to move beyond a medicalised approach   Also in this episode, we dim the lights and raise the curtains - there is a public fascination with doctors who kill and the stage show turned podcast, ‘An Appointment with Murder’, takes a deep dive into the crimes of GPs John Bodkin-Adams and Harold Shipman. Kamran is joined by Harry Brunjes and Andrew Johns to talk medical murder. An Appointment With Murder on Apple Podcasts    

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The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

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This episode is 30 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 23, 2025.

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The UK government is debating legislation to allow assisted dying in England and Wales, which puts doctors at the forefront of deciding if their patient will be eligible for a medically assisted death - the key criteria being a 6 month prognosis....

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