DiscoverMedicine and Science from The BMJThe problem of prognostication in assisted dying.
The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

Update: 2025-04-23
Share

Description

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


 


 

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

The problem of prognostication in assisted dying.

The BMJ