Article Figures & Data
Tables
Characteristic n (%) Specialism GP 95 (81.9) Clinical specialist 0 (0) Geriatric care physician 20 (17.2) Psychiatrist 0 (0) Junior doctor 1 (0.9) Age ≤35 years 19 (16.4) 36–45 years 40 (34.5) 46–55 years 23 (19.8) ≥56 years 34 (29.3) Years of working experience ≤5 years 9 (7.8) 6–10 years 30 (25.9) 11–15 years 22 (19.0) >15 years 55 (47.4) Experience with requests for PADa Yes 109 (94.0) No 7 (6.0) Experience with performing PAD Yes 74 (67.9) No 35 (32.1) Number of times that PAD was performed (n = 74) 1 10 (13.5) 2–5 25 (33.8) >5 39 (52.7) PAD = physician-assisted death. aExperience with requests for PAD other than the one discussed in the survey.
n (%) Underlying conditiona Cancer 32 (27.6) Other somatic disorders 21 (18.1) Dementia 17 (14.7) Psychiatric disorders 11 (9.5) Accumulation of old-age complaints 41 (35.3) Medical diagnosis not clear 9 (7.8) Other conditions 10 (8.6) Reasons for the treating physician not to grant the requestb I have general objections against PAD 20 (17.2) I do not want to perform PAD 16 (13.8) I found the performance of PAD emotionally too distressing 13 (11.2) There was not a good patient—physician relationship 15 (12.9) I had doubts concerning the fulfilment of the criteria of due care 49 (42.2) I was reluctant with the performance of PAD because I feared possible criminal/legal consequences 11 (9.5) The performance of PAD should be solely in the hands of EEC 3 (2.6) Other reasons 32 (27.6) Has the treating physician referred the patient to a colleague? Yes 26 (22.4) No 90 (77.6) Has the treating physician contacted a consultant working for EEC? Yes 38 (32.8) No 78 (67.2) Has the treating physician consulted a SCEN-physician? Yes 16 (13.8) No 100 (86.2) Has the treating physician consulted someone else? Yes 36 (31.0) No 80 (69.0) Has the treating physician referred the patient to EEC? Yes 92 (79.3) No 24 (20.7) EEC = Euthanasia Expertise Centre. PAD = physician-assisted dying. SCEN = Support and Consultation in Euthanasia in The Netherlands. aMultiple answers possible. bMultiple answers possible; responders were asked to select a maximum of three answers
n (%) Do you think you are willing (to continue) to perform PAD in the future? Yes, certainly or probably 74 (63.8) No, certainly or probably not 31 (26.7) Don’t know 11 (9.5) Do you need support in handling requests for PAD? (n = 85) Yes 35 (41.2) No 50 (58.8) In which areas would you need support?a (n = 35) Dealing with pressure from patients to grant a request 12 (34.3) Dealing with pressure from relatives of the patient 10 (28.6) Assessment of unbearable suffering 13 (37.1) The legal framework for PAD 6 (17.1) PAD in specific patient groups (dementia, completed life, psychiatric) 27 (77.1) Other 4 (11.4) Who would you like to ask for support?a (n = 35) SCEN-physician 22 (62.9) Consultant EEC 30 (85.7) Colleague 19 (54.3) Lawyer 4 (11.4) Trainer 0 (0) Other 1 (2.9) EEC = Euthanasia Expertise Centre. PAD = physician-assisted dying. SCEN = Support and Consultation in Euthanasia in The Netherlands. aMultiple answers possible
Supplementary Data
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Exploring doctors’ reasons for not granting a request for euthanasia: a mixed-methods study
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