Euthanasia reporting rates rise after Dutch law changes

Euthanasia was the topic of an address by a visiting Dutch professor at Auckland University’s lecture theatre on March 31.

Professor Hans van Delden is a nursing home physician and teaches medical ethics at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

He talked about the nation-wide studies that have been conducted in the Netherlands since the Euthanasia Law was passed by the Dutch congress in 2002.

He shared his experience of following up the Dutch Government-funded survey of death decisions made by doctors in 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2005. The next one is planned for 2010.

He saw increases in reporting rates of doctors performing euthanasia in the Netherlands after the law was passed.

However, the incidences of euthanasia actually decreased over alternative forms of death decisions.

These include palliative care where the doctor may terminally sedate patient to minimise symptoms of extreme pain but also hasten death.

In the Netherlands patients have no right to euthanasia, but under extreme conditions patients can request it of their doctors, Professor van Delden told his audience.

Doctors are not under any obligation to perform euthanasia and have the freedom to exercise their conscience to preserve their patient’s life.

However, doctors have to weigh this up with the patient’s need to minimise suffering.

The Euthanasia Law has enabled Dutch doctors to carry out the requests of patients under “due care criteria,” says Professor van Delden.

Doctors have to check that patients make voluntary requests, that their suffering is unbearable with no prospect of relief and the doctor cannot see reasonable alternatives.

Patients’ reasons for opting for euthanasia included loss of dignity and no prospect of relief from ongoing pain, said Professor van Delden.

Dutch GPs play a big role in palliative care.

The Netherlands has fewer hospices than New Zealand, but Professor van Delden added that it had good health care system to care for the dying.