How do the Mental Health Issues Differ in the Withholding/Withdrawing of Treatment Versus Assisted Death?

This article reviews 10 of the most common mental health-related arguments against assisted death & applies them to the withholding/withdrawal of treatment to determine if the concerns expressed are truly unique to assisted death. After this analysis it is suggested that the mandatory involvement of a mental health professional can alleviate many of the concerns specifically associated with assisted death & that a mental health professional may also be helpful in situations involving the withholding/withdrawing of treatment. (50 refs.)