[Ending life at the patient's request: who sets the standards?]

Under the Dutch Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act of 2002, independent review committees assess all reported cases of euthanasia and assisted suicide. These committees apply and conceptualise the criteria mentioned in the Act. Recently, the Royal Dutch Medical Association questioned a number of decisions made by the committees. This is a confusing situation for physicians: should they follow the 'jurisprudence' of the committees or the standards as defined by their professional organisation?