Euthanasia and assisted suicide in neurological diseases: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To identify the neurological diseases for which euthanasia and assisted suicide are most frequently requested in the countries where these medical procedures are legal and the specific characteristics of euthanasia in some of these diseases, and to show the evolution of euthanasia figures.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review.

RESULTS

Dementia, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease are the neurological diseases that most frequently motivate requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Requests related to dementia constitute the largest group, are growing, and raise additional ethical and legal issues due to these patients' diminished decision-making capacity. In some countries, the ratios of euthanasia requests to all cases of multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, or Huntington disease are higher than for any other disease.

CONCLUSIONS

After cancer, neurological diseases are the most frequent reason for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide.

[Telephone assistance for neurological diseases: a systematic review]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

While part of the care for neurological patients is done by telephone, it is not well known what neurological diseases and which part of that care is provided by telephone. Our goal is to find it out through a bibliographic review.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

References on telephone care for neurological diseases accessible through the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane platforms have been systematically reviewed, with an unspecified start date and up to March 2022. We found 618 references, and as 219 did not pass the exclusion criteria, 399 were finally included in the review.

RESULTS

Dementia is the area of neurology with more publications about its telephone assistance. It is followed by stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, and others.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Dementias are the diseases with more bibliographic references on their telephone assistance despite not being the most prevalent. The telephone is frequently used to administer diagnostic scales or support caregivers and is particularly useful in diseases that limit mobility and attending a medical practice.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide in neurological diseases: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To identify the neurological diseases for which euthanasia and assisted suicide are most frequently requested in the countries where these medical procedures are legal and the specific characteristics of euthanasia in some of these diseases, and to show the evolution of euthanasia figures.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review.

RESULTS

Dementia, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease are the neurological diseases that most frequently motivate requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Claims related to dementia constitute the largest group, are growing, and raise additional ethical and legal issues due to these patients' diminished decision-making capacity. In some countries, the ratios of euthanasia requests to all cases of multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, or Huntington disease are higher than for any other disease.

CONCLUSIONS

After cancer, neurological diseases are the most frequent reason for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Stroke as a complication and prognostic factor of COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

Contradictory data have been reported on the incidence of stroke in patients with COVID-19 and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with history of stroke.

METHODS

This study systematically reviews case series reporting stroke as a complication of COVID-19, and analyses the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 and history of stroke. The pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke in patients with COVID-19 are also reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

History of stroke increases the risk of death due to COVID-19 by 3 times. Stroke currently seems not to be one of the main complications of COVID-19.