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Developments in euthanasia practice in the Netherlands: Balancing professional responsibility and the patient's
Pauline S C Kouwenhoven1, Ghislaine J M W van Thiel1, Agnes van der Heide2
1a Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care , University Medical Centre Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
The European Journal of General Practice
|November 2, 2018
Summary
Euthanasia in the Netherlands is shifting focus from physician duty to patient autonomy. This change may limit end-of-life care options beyond euthanasia.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- End-of-Life Care
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Euthanasia constituted 4.5% of deaths in the Netherlands in 2015, predominantly performed by General Practitioners (GPs).
- Traditionally, physician duties in euthanasia involved balancing the alleviation of suffering with life preservation.
- A notable shift indicates patient autonomy is increasingly the primary justification for euthanasia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolution of euthanasia practices and end-of-life decision-making in the Netherlands.
- To analyze the impact of patient autonomy on the physician's role in end-of-life care.
- To differentiate between autonomy as a right and autonomy as an ideal in the context of euthanasia requests.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of developments in Dutch euthanasia practice.
- Review of literature on end-of-life decision-making and patient autonomy.
- Conceptual analysis of 'patient autonomy' in relation to euthanasia.
Main Results:
- The justification for euthanasia is increasingly centered on the patient's autonomous wish.
- The concept of autonomy 'as a right' may restrict physicians' options for alternative end-of-life care.
- This shift impacts the interpretation of physician duties in managing end-of-life situations.
Conclusions:
- The increasing emphasis on patient autonomy as a right in euthanasia requests may inadvertently narrow physician's capacity to offer diverse end-of-life care options.
- Understanding the nuances of patient autonomy is crucial for navigating complex end-of-life decisions.
- Further research is needed to explore the implications of this shift for both patients and healthcare providers.