Opinions of health care professionals and the public after eight years of euthanasia legislation in the Netherlands: A mixed methods approach

Abstract

Health care professionals and the general public mostly support the legal requirements for euthanasia and PAS. The law permits euthanasia or PAS for mental suffering but this possibility is not widely endorsed. The general public is more liberal towards euthanasia for advanced dementia than health care professionals. We conclude that there is ample support for the law after eight years of legal euthanasia.

Nurses’ attitudes towards euthanasia in conflict with professional ethical guidelines

“…[19][20][21] Respect for patients' autonomy, including their wish to die, is also emphasized among the proponents of euthanasia. 7,15,16,[22][23][24][25][26] Moreover, the proponents of euthanasia refer to the nurses' duty to alleviate suffering [19][20][21] and regard euthanasia as an extreme remedy. Furthermore, supporters of euthanasia value the quality of life more than its length.…”

“…Furthermore, supporters of euthanasia value the quality of life more than its length. 16,22,25,27 On the other hand, the ethical guidelines emphasize the obligation of nurses to protect human life and human rights, which include everyone's right to life and security of person. [19][20][21] Those who reason against euthanasia often refer to its possible misuse and employ the argument of the 'slippery slope'.…”

Physician-assisted death is less frequently performed among women with a lower education: A survey among general practitioners

“…GPs find the statutory criteria that "the doctor is convinced that the patient's suffering is unbearable and hopeless" the most difficult to assess. 4 A GP must be able to explain that the unbearable suffering of the patient was Palliative Medicine 28(9) at least recognizable for him. For a patient to present their perspective, a certain degree of eloquence is needed.…”

Should assisted dying for psychiatric disorders be legalized in Canada?

“…11 In a recent public opinion poll of 1517 Canadians, only 22% supported legalizing assisted dying for psychological suffering. 12 But the pool of people who might request it because of a psychiatric disorder is potentially large, and the number who have requested and received it for such reasons in the countries that allow it appears to be on the rise.…”