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Publication
Process and outcomes of euthanasia requests in Belgium under the euthanasia act: a nationwide survey.
Journal Contribution - Journal Article
Context
Since 2002, the administration of a lethal drug by a physician at the explicit request of the patient has been legal in Belgium. The incidence of euthanasia in Belgium has been studied, but the process and outcomes of euthanasia requests have not been investigated.
Objectives
To describe which euthanasia requests were granted, withdrawn and rejected since the enactment of the euthanasia law in terms of the characteristics of the patient, the treating physician and aspects of the consultation with a second physician.
Methods
A representative sample of 3,006 Belgian physicians received a questionnaire investigating their most recent euthanasia request.
Results
Response rate: 34%. Since 2002, 39% of respondents had received a euthanasia request. Forty-eight percent of requests had been carried out, 5% refused, 10% had been withdrawn and in 23% the patient had died before euthanasia could be performed. Physicians' characteristics associated with receiving a request were: not being religious, caring for a high number of terminal patients and having experience in palliative care. Patient characteristics associated with granting a request were age, having cancer, and loss of dignity, having no depression, and suffering without prospect of improvement as reason for requesting euthanasia. A positive initial position towards the request from the attending physician and a positive advice from the second physician also contributed to having a request granted.
Conclusion
Under the euthanasia act in Belgium, about half of the requests are granted. Factors related to the reason of the request, the position of the attending physician towards the request, and the advice from the second physician influence whether a request is granted or not.
Since 2002, the administration of a lethal drug by a physician at the explicit request of the patient has been legal in Belgium. The incidence of euthanasia in Belgium has been studied, but the process and outcomes of euthanasia requests have not been investigated.
Objectives
To describe which euthanasia requests were granted, withdrawn and rejected since the enactment of the euthanasia law in terms of the characteristics of the patient, the treating physician and aspects of the consultation with a second physician.
Methods
A representative sample of 3,006 Belgian physicians received a questionnaire investigating their most recent euthanasia request.
Results
Response rate: 34%. Since 2002, 39% of respondents had received a euthanasia request. Forty-eight percent of requests had been carried out, 5% refused, 10% had been withdrawn and in 23% the patient had died before euthanasia could be performed. Physicians' characteristics associated with receiving a request were: not being religious, caring for a high number of terminal patients and having experience in palliative care. Patient characteristics associated with granting a request were age, having cancer, and loss of dignity, having no depression, and suffering without prospect of improvement as reason for requesting euthanasia. A positive initial position towards the request from the attending physician and a positive advice from the second physician also contributed to having a request granted.
Conclusion
Under the euthanasia act in Belgium, about half of the requests are granted. Factors related to the reason of the request, the position of the attending physician towards the request, and the advice from the second physician influence whether a request is granted or not.
Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage
ISSN: 0885-3924
Issue: 5
Volume: 42
Pages: 721-733
Publication year:2011
Keywords:euthanasia, decision-making