%0 Journal Article
%T Developments in euthanasia practice in the Netherlands: Balancing professional responsibility and the patient¡¯s autonomy
%A Agnes van der Heide
%A Ghislaine J. M. W. van Thiel
%A Johannes J. M. van Delden
%A Judith A. C. Rietjens
%A Pauline S. C. Kouwenhoven
%J European Journal of General Practice
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2018.1517154
%X Abstract In 2015, euthanasia accounted for 4.5% of deaths in the Netherlands, of which 93% were performed by a GP. Historically, a conflict of physician¡¯s duties¡ªto alleviate unbearable suffering and at the same time preserve the patient¡¯s life¡ªis central to the justification of euthanasia practice in the Netherlands. However, there seems to be a shift towards a greater emphasis on the patient¡¯s autonomous wish as the primary basis for euthanasia. This shift has consequences for the role and interpretation of the physician¡¯s duties in end-of-life care. This paper aims to describe these developments in euthanasia practice and end-of-life decision-making. We describe important relevant developments and look into the role and the meaning of two dimensions of the concept of ¡®patient autonomy¡¯ regarding end-of-life decisions, in particular, the euthanasia request. We claim that the concept of autonomy ¡®as a right,¡¯ which can be distinguished from autonomy ¡®as an ideal,¡¯ narrows the physician¡¯s window of opportunity to offer end-of-life care other than euthanasia
%U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13814788.2018.1517154