Are general practitioners prepared to end life on request in a country where euthanasia is legalised?: Table 1

Sercu, Marij; Pype, Peter; Christiaens, Thierry; Grypdonck, Maria; Derese, Anselme; Deveugele, Myriam

doi:10.1136/medethics-2011-100048

Cited by 24 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…It is not known whether doctors are traditionally more religious or whether there has been a participation bias, but the same numbers were found in another publication. 20 A more conservative attitude was consistently noticed towards euthanasia in the case of religious doctors compared with their non-religious colleagues, as also demonstrated in other studies. 13,20 Second, it was noticed that age or years of working play an important role.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 75%

“…20 A more conservative attitude was consistently noticed towards euthanasia in the case of religious doctors compared with their non-religious colleagues, as also demonstrated in other studies. 13,20 Second, it was noticed that age or years of working play an important role. Younger physicians show the most open attitude towards euthanasia in dementia.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 75%

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Euthanasia in the case of dementia: a survey among Flemish GPs

Cleemput

Schoenmakers

2019

BJGP Open

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BackgroundIn Belgium law prohibits euthanasia at the end stage of dementia when patients are no longer able to formulate their will. The number of applications for euthanasia based on dementia is low, but patients and their relatives are searching for access to euthanasia.AimThis study assessed the opinions of GPs facing requests for euthanasia in patients with dementia.Design & settingA cross-sectional survey was performed in general practice. Flemish GPs were invited by email to participate in the study.MethodGPs were reached through the regional GP association and the online survey was open for 4 weeks. The data were then anonymised, analysed, and interpreted. The outcome of interest addresses opinions of Flemish GPs regarding euthanasia in patients with dementia.ResultsA total of 113/308 doctors participated. It was found that 69% agreed that euthanasia in patients without dementia is more acceptable than in patients with dementia. When patients with dementia had concomitant diseases, 59% stated that euthanasia was more acceptable than when patients were ‘healthy’. It was also found that 56% agreed the euthanasia law needs adjustments towards patients with dementia. Legal adjustments were supported more by GPs of a younger generation. Non-religious doctors were twice as likely to be in favour of legal adjustments than their religious colleagues; 51% believed that the ability of patients to repeat their will is essential; while 72% of GPs feared pressure from relatives to follow the declaration of will.ConclusionThe Belgian GP has an open attitude towards euthanasia for patients with dementia. There was a willingness to perform euthanasia as the stage of dementia worsened and in cases of terminal conditions. Debate, education, and experience will influence opinion and the legislation process.

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Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 75%

Euthanasia in the case of dementia: a survey among Flemish GPs

Cleemput

Schoenmakers

2019

BJGP Open

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“…Physicians were asked in what circumstances they ended the lives of patients without explicit request and described two types of situation: shortening the length of the patient's final phase of agony during the last phase of the dying process and facilitating the death of the “terminally ill, demented and inhumanly deteriorated patient” 42. Their aims were to shorten the length of misery considered to be futile, to ensure a relatively comfortable death and, most worryingly, to alleviate the burden of the next of kin 43.…”

Section: Shortening Lives Of Patients Without Their Explicit Requestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their aims were to shorten the length of misery considered to be futile, to ensure a relatively comfortable death and, most worryingly, to alleviate the burden of the next of kin 43. Thus defenders of the euthanasia policy in Belgium argued that life-ending acts without explicit patient's request should be seen as “compassionate intended abbreviation of terminal agony” 44 45…”

Section: Shortening Lives Of Patients Without Their Explicit Requestmentioning

confidence: 99%

First do no harm: intentionally shortening lives of patients without their explicit request in Belgium

Cohen‐Almagor

2015

J Med Ethics

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“…Others (mainly General Practitioners) have felt unwilling to administer a lethal dose of medication, indicating that patients' access to a physician willing to respond to their request may be arbitrary (Sercu et al, 2012). Participating doctors in EAS found that it required a significant investment of time and was emotionally intense (Deschepper et al, 2014).…”

Section: Who Would Be Responsible For Performing Eas and What Would Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Legalizing physician-assisted suicide and/or euthanasia: Pragmatic implications

Hudson

Philip

et al. 2015

Pall Supp Care

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Objective: Despite the availability of palliative care in many countries, legalization of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) continues to be debated-particularly around ethical and legal issues-and the surrounding controversy shows no signs of abating. Responding to EAS requests is considered one of the most difficult healthcare responsibilities. In the present paper, we highlight some of the less frequently discussed practical implications for palliative care provision if EAS were to be legalized. Our aim was not to take an explicit anti-EAS stance or expand on findings from systematic reviews or philosophical and ethico-legal treatises, but rather to offer clinical perspectives and the potential pragmatic implications of legalized EAS for palliative care provision, patients and families, healthcare professionals, and the broader community.Method: We provide insights from our multidisciplinary clinical experience, coupled with those from various jurisdictions where EAS is, or has been, legalized.Results: We believe that these issues, many of which are encountered at the bedside, must be considered in detail so that the pragmatic implications of EAS can be comprehensively considered.Significance of Results: Increased resources and effort must be directed toward training, research, community engagement, and ensuring adequate resourcing for palliative care before further consideration is given to allocating resources for legalizing euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide.

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Are general practitioners prepared to end life on request in a country where euthanasia is legalised?: Table 1

Cited by 24 publications

References 20 publications

Euthanasia in the case of dementia: a survey among Flemish GPs

Euthanasia in the case of dementia: a survey among Flemish GPs

First do no harm: intentionally shortening lives of patients without their explicit request in Belgium

Legalizing physician-assisted suicide and/or euthanasia: Pragmatic implications

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