Year: 2007
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In 2002, an act regulating the ending of life by a physician at the request of a patient with unbearable suffering came into effect in the Netherlands. In 2005, we performed a follow-up study of euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and other end-of-life practices. METHODS: We mailed questionnaires to physicians attending 6860 deaths that were identified from death certificates. The response rate was 77.8%. RESULTS: In 2005, of all deaths in the Netherlands, 1.7% were the result of euthanasia and 0.1% were the result of physician-assisted suicide. These percentages were significantly lower than those in 2001, when 2.6% of all deaths resulted from euthanasia and 0.2% from assisted suicide. Of all deaths, 0.4% were the result of the ending of life without an explicit request by the patient. Continuous deep sedation was used in conjunction with possible hastening of death in 7.1% of all deaths in 2005, significantly increased from 5.6% in 2001. In 73.9% of all cases of euthanasia or assisted suicide in 2005, life was ended with the use of neuromuscular relaxants or barbiturates; opioids were used in 16.2% of cases. In 2005, 80.2% of all cases of euthanasia or assisted suicide were reported. Physicians were most likely to report their end-of-life practices if they considered them to be an act of euthanasia or assisted suicide, which was rarely true when opioids were used. CONCLUSIONS: The Dutch Euthanasia Act was followed by a modest decrease in the rates of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The decrease may have resulted from the increased application of other end-of-life care interventions, such as palliative sedation.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine
DOI: 10.1056/nejmsa071143
Authors: Agnes van der Heide, Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Mette L. Rurup, Hilde M. Buiting, Johannes J.M. van Delden, Johanna E. Hanssen-de Wolf, Anke G.J.M. Janssen, H. Roeline W. Pasman, Judith A.C. Rietjens, Cornelis J.M. Prins, Ingeborg M. Deerenberg, Joseph K.M. Gevers, Paul J. van der Maas, Gerrit van der Wal
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2103831377