https://doi.org/10.4081/mem.1998.817
Un nuovo termine medico in discussione Nota commento al cosiddetto versterving
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Autori
In questa nota informativa l'Autore intende far conoscere il significato di una nuova parola diffusa in Olanda e in Germania: versterving. Si tratta di un termine olandese in uso da un po'di tempo nelle case di cura per anziani affetti da demenza. La discussione intorno a questo termine ebbe inizio con un fatto accaduto in una casa di cura in Olanda: i parenti di un malato ivi ricoverato denunciarono il personale curante perchè, al fine di accelerare la morte del loro congiunto, non gli davano nè cibo, nè acqua. Infatti il termine venne coniato per la prima volta da un medico psichiatra, Chabot, per indicare la rinuncia all'idratazione e all'alimentazione artificiali, il che, in sostanza, vuol dire aprire una finestra all'eutanasia passiva.
Infatti l'alimentazione e l'idratazione rientrano tra le cure normali dovute sempre al malato per cui la loro ingiustificata sospensione può avere il significato di vera eutanasia. La versterving è quindi una sospensione indebita di cure proporzionate. L'Autore afferma inoltre che l'attività medico-sanitaria deve essere impostata su un incontro tra una fiducia (quella del malato) e una coscienza (quella del medico) che ha il compito di assistere, curare e guarire.
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