The medical practice of euthanasia in Belgium and The Netherlands: Legal notification, control and evaluation procedures

Smets, Tinne; Bilsen, Johan; Cohen, Joachim; Rürup, Matthias; Keyser, Els De; Deliens, Luc

doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2008.10.003

Cited by 43 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…For every 5 people euthanized, 1 is euthanized without having given explicit consent. Attempts at bringing those cases to trial have failed, providing evidence that the judicial system has become more tolerant over time of such transgressions 5 .…”

Section: Voluntary Written Consentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Euthanasia is generally defined as the act, undertaken only by a physician, that intentionally ends the and pas from being abused or misused 5 . Some criteria and procedures are common across the jurisdictions; others vary from country to country 5,6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some criteria and procedures are common across the jurisdictions; others vary from country to country 5,6 . The extent to which these controls and safeguards have been able to control the practices and to avoid abuse merits closer inspection, particularly by jurisdictions contemplating the legalization of euthanasia and pas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Legalizing Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide: The Illusion of Safeguards and Controls

Pereira

2011

Current Oncology

103

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Euthanasia or assisted suicide—and sometimes both—have been legalized in a small number of countries and states. In all jurisdictions, laws and safeguards were put in place to prevent abuse and misuse of these practices. Prevention measures have included, among others, explicit consent by the person requesting euthanasia, mandatory reporting of all cases, administration only by physicians (with the exception of Switzerland), and consultation by a second physician. The present paper provides evidence that these laws and safeguards are regularly ignored and transgressed in all the jurisdictions and that transgressions are not prosecuted. For example, about 900 people annually are administered lethal substances without having given explicit consent, and in one jurisdiction, almost 50% of cases of euthanasia are not reported. Increased tolerance of transgressions in societies with such laws represents a social “slippery slope,” as do changes to the laws and criteria that followed legalization. Although the initial intent was to limit euthanasia and assisted suicide to a lastresort option for a very small number of terminally ill people, some jurisdictions now extend the practice to newborns, children, and people with dementia. A terminal illness is no longer a prerequisite. In the Netherlands, euthanasia for anyone over the age of 70 who is “tired of living” is now being considered. Legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide therefore places many people at risk, affects the values of society over time, and does not provide controls and safeguards.

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Section: Voluntary Written Consentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Legalizing Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide: The Illusion of Safeguards and Controls

Pereira

2011

Current Oncology

103

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show abstract

“…In the Netherlands and the United States, two physicians must use clinical judgment to determine whether a patient is capable before physician-assisted death, 5,6,9 but patients are rarely referred for psychiatric assessment. 10 If a psychiatric assessment is re quired in the Canadian setting (as the trial judge in Carter v. Canada specified), 3 psychiatric resources would be hard-pressed to provide urgent assessments for patients who request physician-assisted death.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Belgium and the Netherlands have mandated committees to review every reported case of physicianassisted death and provide individual feedback to ensure the use of proper procedures. 9 They are sup-posed to emphasize education rather than punishment for failure to comply. Quebec's Bill 52 mandates the creation of a commission to review each case of physician-assisted death; reporting would be mandatory to monitor whether all legal requirements were met.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%