So, when looking at the Doctrine of Double Effect, the thing that comes through is the Motivation for the Action. In this way the Doctrine reflects most human laws in most countries in regard to harm to self or another.
It is not the action, so much, but rather the Motive.
Usually for anything to be 'a crime' there in fact needs to be a Motive to commit a crime.
The Motive in Palliative Care is to render the person free of suffering as they have requested.
The Motive in Euthanasia is to kill the person as they have requested.
Personally, I can see nothing wrong with either Palliative Care or Euthanasia in my own view, but I do understand that one is legal and the other is illegal. I feel both should be legal. I can see nothing wrong in a scenario where referrals between Palliative care and Euthanasia Services can be made, and vice versa, to best meet the requirements and desires of the person.
Personally, I have found the 30 years working in clinical end-of-life Palliative Care to have been naturally burdensome and I would find it pretty well impossible to be at peace working in a Euthanasia Clinic for any length of time.
I believe the 'weight' of such decisions and events is very heavy and to work in a Euthanasia Clinic, well, that would have to be a very highly paid job, with strong debriefing support, and there would have to be a lot of holidays. Mind you, I feel that way about working in Palliative care anyway...but there are differences, to me.
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