1
|
Scurria S, Asmundo A, Gualniera P. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: what about in Europe? GAZZETTA MEDICA ITALIANA ARCHIVIO PER LE SCIENZE MEDICHE 2020. [DOI: 10.23736/s0393-3660.19.04076-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
2
|
Schuurmans J, Bouwmeester R, Crombach L, van Rijssel T, Wingens L, Georgieva K, O'Shea N, Vos S, Tilburgs B, Engels Y. Euthanasia requests in dementia cases; what are experiences and needs of Dutch physicians? A qualitative interview study. BMC Med Ethics 2019; 20:66. [PMID: 31585541 PMCID: PMC6778363 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-019-0401-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the Netherlands, in 2002, euthanasia became a legitimate medical act, only allowed when the due care criteria and procedural requirements are met. Legally, an Advanced Euthanasia Directive (AED) can replace direct communication if a patient can no longer express his own wishes. In the past decade, an exponential number of persons with dementia (PWDs) share a euthanasia request with their physician. The impact this on physicians, and the consequent support needs, remained unknown. Our objective was to gain more insight into the experiences and needs of Dutch general practitioners and elderly care physicians when handling a euthanasia request from a person with dementia (PWD). METHODS We performed a qualitative interview study. Participants were recruited via purposive sampling. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the conventional thematic content analysis. RESULTS Eleven general practitioners (GPs) and elderly care physicians with a variety of experience and different attitudes towards euthanasia for PWD were included. Euthanasia requests appeared to have a major impact on physicians. Difficulties they experienced were related to timing, workload, pressure from and expectations of relatives, society's negative view of dementia in combination with the 'right to die' view, the interpretation of the law and AEDs, ethical considerations, and communication with PWD and relatives. To deal with these difficulties, participants need support from colleagues and other professionals. Although elderly care physicians appreciated moral deliberation and support by chaplains, this was hardly mentioned by GPs. CONCLUSIONS Euthanasia requests in dementia seem to place an ethically and emotionally heavy burden on Dutch GPs and elderly care physicians. The awareness of, and access to, existing and new support mechanisms needs further exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaap Schuurmans
- General practice Ottenhoff, B. Ottenhoffstraat 18, 6561 CM, Groesbeek, The Netherlands. .,Radboud university medical center, Postbox 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Romy Bouwmeester
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lamar Crombach
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa van Rijssel
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lizzy Wingens
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina Georgieva
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nadine O'Shea
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Vos
- Radboud University Honours Academy, Houtlaan 4, 6525, XZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Tilburgs
- Radboud university medical center, Postbox 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Engels
- Radboud university medical center, Postbox 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hoogendijk EO, Deeg DJH, Poppelaars J, van der Horst M, Broese van Groenou MI, Comijs HC, Pasman HRW, van Schoor NM, Suanet B, Thomése F, van Tilburg TG, Visser M, Huisman M. The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: cohort update 2016 and major findings. Eur J Epidemiol 2016; 31:927-45. [PMID: 27544533 PMCID: PMC5010587 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-016-0192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is an ongoing longitudinal study of older adults in the Netherlands, which started in 1992. LASA is focused on the determinants, trajectories and consequences of physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning. The study is based on a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 55 years and over. The findings of the LASA study have been reported in over 450 publications so far (see www.lasa-vu.nl ). In this article we describe the background and the design of the LASA study, and provide an update of the methods. In addition, we provide a summary of the major findings from the period 2011-2015.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emiel O Hoogendijk
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Dorly J H Deeg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Poppelaars
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen van der Horst
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hannie C Comijs
- Department of Psychiatry, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H Roeline W Pasman
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natasja M van Schoor
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca Suanet
- Department of Sociology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur Thomése
- Department of Sociology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marjolein Visser
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Huisman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bolt EE, Pasman HRW, Deeg DJH, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD. From Advance Euthanasia Directive to Euthanasia: Stable Preference in Older People? J Am Geriatr Soc 2016; 64:1628-33. [DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 12/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eva E. Bolt
- Department of Public and Occupational Health; EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research; VUmc Expertise Center for Palliative Care; VU University Medical Center; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - H. Roeline W. Pasman
- Department of Public and Occupational Health; EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research; VUmc Expertise Center for Palliative Care; VU University Medical Center; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Dorly J. H. Deeg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam; EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research; VU University Medical Center; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health; EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research; VUmc Expertise Center for Palliative Care; VU University Medical Center; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|