Advance directives for euthanasia in dementia: do law-based opportunities lead to more euthanasia?

Health Policy

Department of Nursing Home Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Published: December 2010

Objective: To obtain insight into current practices regarding compliance with advance directives for euthanasia (ADEs) in cases of incompetent patients with dementia in Dutch nursing homes, in light of the legal possibility offered by the new euthanasia law to perform euthanasia in these cases.

Methods: A written questionnaire was completed by 434 elderly care physicians (ECPs).

Findings: Over the years 2005-2006, many ECPs took care of patients with dementia and an ADE, actual life termination of these patients took place very rarely and never in incompetent patients. ECPs reported practical difficulties in determining the 'unbearableness' of the suffering and choosing the right moment of carrying out the ADE.

Conclusions: Although the enactment of the Dutch euthanasia law in theory provided a window of opportunity for euthanasia in incompetent patients with dementia and an ADE, it has not led to obvious changes in compliance with ADEs of this patient group in practice. Crucial in the reticent attitudes of ECPs appears to be the impossibility of patient-physician communication. This raises questions on the feasibility of the law on this point. In our opinion, the role of ADEs in end-of-life care of patients with advanced dementia in the Netherlands deserves serious reconsideration.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.06.024DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

incompetent patients
12
patients dementia
12
advance directives
8
directives euthanasia
8
euthanasia law
8
care patients
8
dementia ade
8
euthanasia
6
patients
6
dementia
5

Similar Publications

Background: Little evidence is available about heart rate (HR) response to exercise as well as its relationship with functional capacity in amyloid cardiomyopathy. Then, in a multicentre cohort of patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy, we investigated the prevalence of chronotropic incompetence (CI) and its relationships with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) variables.

Methods: Data from 172 outpatients with amyloid cardiomyopathy who performed a maximal CPET and who had no significant rhythm disorders were analysed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cervical length of preoperative cervical cerclage prognostic impacted the effect of cervical insufficiency.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

January 2025

Department of Gynecology, Jiangnan University Medical Center, 68 Zhongshan Road, Liangxi Strict, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the impact of preoperative cervical length before cervical cerclage on the extension of gestational days in patients with various diagnostic types of cervical insufficiency, including obstetric history-based diagnosis, ultrasound-based diagnosis, and physical examination-based diagnosis.

Methods: 168 patients were segregated into four categories based on cervical length: 0-0.4 cm, 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Surgical fundoplication remains integral in managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by addressing gastroesophageal valve incompetence. This study introduces a novel hybrid approach, the Eversion Cruroplasty and Collar Overwrap (ECCO) procedure, aiming to combine benefits of conventional partial wrapping and posteromedial cardiopexy, considering gastric fundus anatomical peculiarities as an anti-reflux barrier.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of pediatric patients presenting with refractory GERD from 2021 to 2023 was conducted.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-indicated cerclage in singleton pregnancies with cervical shortening (<25 mm), excluding those with a history of preterm birth (PTB) and infection/inflammation.

Materials And Methods: Among the 1556 women admitted for a cervix measuring <25 mm via transvaginal ultrasound at Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital between January 2001 and December 2023, our study focused on 47 singleton patients with no prior history of PTB. After receiving information on both risks and benefits, 25 patients opted for ultrasound-indicated cerclage (cerclage group), while 22 chose expectant management (expectant management group).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) refers to the bidirectional interactions between the acutely or chronically dysfunctioning heart and kidney that lead to poor outcomes. Due to the evolving literature on renal impairment and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HfpEF), this review aimed to highlight the pathophysiological pathways, diagnosis using imaging and biomarkers and management of CRS in patients with HFpEF. Further studies are needed to validate the use of novel biomarkers, especially for early diagnosis and prognostication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!