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van Eenennaam RM, Kruithof W, Beelen A, Bakker LA, van Eijk RPA, Maessen M, Baardman JF, Visser-Meily JMA, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH. Frequency of euthanasia, factors associated with end-of-life practices, and quality of end-of-life care in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Netherlands: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:591-601. [PMID: 37353279 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(23)00155-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive and lethal neurodegenerative disease that is at the forefront of debates on regulation of assisted dying. Since 2002, when euthanasia was legally regulated in the Netherlands, the frequency of this end-of-life practice has increased substantially from 1·7% of all deaths in 1990 and 2005 to 4·5% in 2015. We aimed to investigate whether the frequency of euthanasia in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had similarly increased since 2002, and to assess the factors associated with end-of-life practices and the quality of end-of-life care in patients with this disease. METHODS Using data from the Netherlands ALS registry, we did a population-based cohort study of clinicians and informal caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to assess factors associated with end-of-life decision making and the quality of end-of-life care. We included individuals who were diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis according to the revised El-Escorial criteria, and who died between Jan 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2016. We calculated the frequency of euthanasia in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from reports made to euthanasia review committees (ERCs) between 2012 and 2020. Results were compared with clinic-based survey studies conducted in 1994-2005. End-of-life practices were end-of-life decisions by a clinician when hastening of death was considered as the potential, probable, or definite effect comprising euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, ending of life without explicit request, forgoing life-prolonging treatment, and intensified alleviation of symptoms. FINDINGS Between Jan 1, 2012, and Dec 31, 2020, 4130 reports of death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were made to ERCs, of which 1014 were from euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (mean frequency 25% [SD 3] per year). Sex and gender data were unavailable from the ERC registry. Of 884 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who died between Jan 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2016, their treating clinician was identified for 731 and a caregiver was identified for 741, of whom 356 (49%) and 450 (61%), respectively, agreed to participate in the population-based survey study. According to clinicians, end-of-life practices were chosen by 280 (79%) of 356 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who died. The frequency of euthanasia in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2014-16 (141 [40%] of 356 deaths in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) was higher than in 1994-98 (35 [17%] of 203) and 2000-05 (33 [16%] of 209). Median survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from diagnosis was 15·9 months (95% CI 12·6-17·6) for those who chose euthanasia and 16·1 months (13·4-19·1) for those who did not choose euthanasia (hazard ratio 1·07, 95% CI 0·85-1·34; p=0·58). According to caregivers, compared with other end-of-life practices, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis choosing euthanasia commonly reported reasons to hasten death as no chance of improvement (53 [56%] of 94 patients who chose euthanasia vs 28 [39%] of 72 patients who chose other end-of-life practices), loss of dignity (47 [50%] vs 15 [21%]), dependency (34 [36%] vs five [7%]), and fatigue or extreme weakness (41 [44%] vs 14 [20%]). According to caregivers, people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-whether they chose euthanasia or did not-were satisfied with the general quality (83 [93%] of 89 patients who chose euthanasia vs 73 [86%] of 85 patients who did not) and availability (85 [97%] of 88 vs 81 [91%] of 90) of end-of-life care. INTERPRETATION The proportion of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who chose euthanasia in the Netherlands has increased since 2002. The choice of euthanasia was not associated with disease or patient characteristics, depression or hopelessness, or the availability or quality of end-of-life care. The choice of euthanasia had no effect on overall survival. Future studies could focus on the effect of discussing end-of-life options on quality of life as part of multidisciplinary care throughout the course of the disease, to reduce feelings of loss of autonomy and dignity in patients living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. FUNDING Netherlands ALS Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remko M van Eenennaam
- Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Willeke Kruithof
- Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Anita Beelen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Leonhard A Bakker
- Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ruben P A van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Biostatistics & Research Support, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Maud Maessen
- University Center for Palliative Care, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, and Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joost F Baardman
- Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Johanna M A Visser-Meily
- Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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Erdmann A, Spoden C, Hirschberg I, Neitzke G. The wish to die and hastening death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A scoping review. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2021; 11:271-287. [PMID: 33397660 PMCID: PMC8380909 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develops into a life-threatening condition 2 to 4 years after the onset of symptoms. Although many people with the disease decide in favour of life-sustaining measures, thoughts about hastening death are not uncommon. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to examine the scope of literature on the wish to die in ALS and provide an insight into determinants and motives for different end-of-life options. METHODS We searched eight databases for English and German publications on death wishes in ALS for the period from 2008 to 2018 and updated the search up to May 2020. After the screening process, 213 full texts were included for the final analysis. We analysed the texts in MAXQDA, using deductively and inductively generated codes. RESULTS We identified end-of-life considerations, ranging from wishes to die without hastening death, to options with the possibility or intention of hastening death. Besides physical impairment, especially psychosocial factors, socio-demographic status and socio-cultural context have a great impact on decisions for life-shortening options. There is huge variation in the motives and determinants for end-of-life considerations between individuals, different societies, healthcare and legal systems. CONCLUSIONS For a variety of reasons, the information and counselling provided on different options for sustaining life or hastening death is often incomplete and insufficient. Since the motives and determinants for the wish to hasten death are extremely diverse, healthcare professionals should investigate the reasons, meaning and strength of the desire to die to detect unmet needs and examine which interventions are appropriate in each individual case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Erdmann
- Institute for History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Medicine, Medical Ethics Working Group, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Celia Spoden
- Institute for History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Irene Hirschberg
- Institute for History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gerald Neitzke
- Institute for History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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