Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Physician Assisted Suicide

摘要

Mr P is a 45-year-old man with a 2-year history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He has declined significantly over the past 3 months and had a "respiratory crisis" that caused him to revoke hospice and have a tracheostomy tube placed for chronic mechanical ventilation. He then reentered the hospice program, stating, "I just want to die." He now feels he "panicked" when he demanded mechanical ventilation but does not want to discontinue it for fear of "smothering."