[Euthanasia of Dutch psychiatric patients in 2015-2017].
Euthanasie van Nederlandse psychiatrische patiënten in 2015-2017.
Journal
Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie
ISSN: 0303-7339
Titre abrégé: Tijdschr Psychiatr
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 0423731
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2019
2019
Historique:
entrez:
25
4
2019
pubmed:
25
4
2019
medline:
1
10
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The Netherlands is one of the few countries in the world that allows euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS) due to psychiatric suffering. METHODS In 2015-2017 the Dutch regional euthanasia review committees published 43 case summaries online. Of these, 35 were suitable for analysis regarding patient characteristics and physician involvement, and 3 cases were described in detail.<br/> RESULTS: In total, 77% of the patients were women and 51% were aged 50-70 years. Major depression disorder and personality disorders were present in almost half of the patients. All patients were considered mentally competent. CONCLUSIONS Although the incidence of psychiatric EAS cases is rising, we found no shift in patient characteristics. The division between psychiatric and somatic suffering may prove more complicated than expected. Patients dying from suicide differ in various ways from patients dying through EAS. The fact that all patients are considered competent could mean that they are unjustly seen as being vulnerable or that the competence assessment lacks due diligence.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The Netherlands is one of the few countries in the world that allows euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS) due to psychiatric suffering. METHODS In 2015-2017 the Dutch regional euthanasia review committees published 43 case summaries online. Of these, 35 were suitable for analysis regarding patient characteristics and physician involvement, and 3 cases were described in detail.<br/> RESULTS: In total, 77% of the patients were women and 51% were aged 50-70 years. Major depression disorder and personality disorders were present in almost half of the patients. All patients were considered mentally competent. CONCLUSIONS Although the incidence of psychiatric EAS cases is rising, we found no shift in patient characteristics. The division between psychiatric and somatic suffering may prove more complicated than expected. Patients dying from suicide differ in various ways from patients dying through EAS. The fact that all patients are considered competent could mean that they are unjustly seen as being vulnerable or that the competence assessment lacks due diligence.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
dut
Sous-ensembles de citation
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