Euthanasia in focus: Dr. Neves researches the role of pentobarbital!

Euthanasia in focus: Dr. Neves researches the role of pentobarbital!

Dr. Marcos Freire de Andrade Neves, social and cultural anthropologist at the Free University of Berlin, has received significant support for his interdisciplinary research project MORTALMED. His work is funded with an ERC Starting Grant worth 1.49 million euros. In doing so, he intends to examine the global distribution of the drug sodium pentobarbital and to shed light on the social, political and cultural dimensions of its use that are shaped by this drug.

As part of his project, Dr. Neves the transnational circulation of medicines, people, technologies and documents in the context of euthanasia and the death penalty. His employer, the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Free University of Berlin, supports his research in the areas of medical anthropology and global health. A central concern of MORTALMED is to shed light on the socio-political dynamics and power structures that are characterized by the use of sodium pentobarbital.

MORTALMED and its goals

One of the main objectives of the project is to analyze the drug sodium pentobarbital in different social contexts. These include euthanasia in Switzerland, state executions in the USA and commercialization in Mexico. Dr. Neves aims to show how the drug's use reflects and even reinforces existing socioeconomic and racial inequalities. In doing so, MORTALMED aims to provide new impetus for political and legal debates on euthanasia and the death penalty.

Particularly noteworthy is Dr. Neves’ documentary “Not Dead Yet”, which will be awarded the “Fejos Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ethnographic Film” in spring 2025. The film focuses on the lives of two theater actors who live in a circus wagon and meet a Swiss doctor who provides euthanasia. This project is another example of his commitment to exploring the complex human issues surrounding death and euthanasia.

Sodium pentobarbital in the focus of the discussion

Sodium pentobarbital, also known by the trade name Nembutal, has proven over the years to be a central element in the debate about euthanasia and euthanasia. Historically, pentobarbital was primarily used for anesthesia and sedation, but has become increasingly important in euthanasia. Its mode of action, which leads to sleep, unconsciousness and ultimately respiratory arrest by inhibiting the central nervous system, is also the subject of ethical and moral discussions.

In countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium, Nembutal is prescribed for euthanasia under medical supervision, highlighting the need for regulation and responsible use. Especially in US states with dignified dying laws, doctors are allowed to use pentobarbital to support intended euthanasia. Therefore, access to pentobarbital is a contentious issue among the public, addressing both the right to die with dignity and concerns about possible misuse.

The growing number of online searches for Nembutal highlights the interest in euthanasia and documents the contradictions associated with national legislation. While advocates argue for open access, critics warn of the dangers of counterfeit drugs and legal consequences when attempting to obtain Nembutal. These discussions not only rely on informed citizens, but also require reforms in countries where euthanasia options are not legal to protect the needs and rights of patients and safeguard public health.

The comprehensive research of Dr. Neves on sodium pentobarbital could offer important insights into the role of a drug in the global debate over euthanasia, as well as interpersonal dynamics in coming to terms with one's own death.