Table 2. Background cases and reasons for not granting the request (n = 116)
n (%)
Underlying conditiona
 Cancer32 (27.6)
 Other somatic disorders21 (18.1)
 Dementia17 (14.7)
 Psychiatric disorders11 (9.5)
 Accumulation of old-age complaints41 (35.3)
 Medical diagnosis not clear9 (7.8)
 Other conditions10 (8.6)
Reasons for the treating physician not to grant the requestb
 I have general objections against PAD20 (17.2)
 I do not want to perform PAD16 (13.8)
 I found the performance of PAD emotionally too distressing13 (11.2)
 There was not a good patient—physician relationship15 (12.9)
 I had doubts concerning the fulfilment of the criteria of due care49 (42.2)
 I was reluctant with the performance of PAD because I feared possible criminal/legal consequences11 (9.5)
 The performance of PAD should be solely in the hands of EEC3 (2.6)
 Other reasons32 (27.6)
Has the treating physician referred the patient to a colleague?
 Yes26 (22.4)
 No90 (77.6)
Has the treating physician contacted a consultant working for EEC?
 Yes38 (32.8)
 No78 (67.2)
Has the treating physician consulted a SCEN-physician?
 Yes16 (13.8)
 No100 (86.2)
Has the treating physician consulted someone else?
 Yes36 (31.0)
 No80 (69.0)
Has the treating physician referred the patient to EEC?
 Yes92 (79.3)
 No24 (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