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The medical practice of euthanasia in Belgium and The Netherlands: Legal notification, control and evaluation procedures

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  • Smets, Tinne
  • Bilsen, Johan
  • Cohen, Joachim
  • Rurup, Mette L.
  • De Keyser, Els
  • Deliens, Luc

Abstract

Objectives To describe and compare current legal procedures for notifying, controlling and evaluating (NCE-procedures) euthanasia in Belgium and the Netherlands, and to discuss the implications for a safe and controllable euthanasia practice.Methods We systematically studied and compared official documents relating to the Belgian and the Dutch NCE-procedures for euthanasia.Results In both countries, physicians are required to notify their cases to a review Committee, stimulating them to safeguard the quality of their euthanasia practice and to make societal control over the practice of euthanasia possible. However, the procedures in both countries differ. The main differences are that the Dutch notification and control procedures are more elaborate and transparent than the Belgian, and that the Belgian procedures are primarily anonymous, whereas the Dutch are not. Societal evaluation is made in both countries through the Committees' summary reports to Parliament.Conclusions Transparent procedures like the Dutch may better facilitate societal control. Informing physicians about the law and the due care requirements for euthanasia, and systematic feedback about their medical actions are both pivotal to achieving efficient societal control and engendering the level of care needed when performing such far-reaching medical acts.

Suggested Citation

  • Smets, Tinne & Bilsen, Johan & Cohen, Joachim & Rurup, Mette L. & De Keyser, Els & Deliens, Luc, 2009. "The medical practice of euthanasia in Belgium and The Netherlands: Legal notification, control and evaluation procedures," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(2-3), pages 181-187, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:90:y:2009:i:2-3:p:181-187
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bilsen, Johan & Vander Stichele, Robert & Broeckaert, Bert & Mortier, Freddy & Deliens, Luc, 2007. "Changes in medical end-of-life practices during the legalization process of euthanasia in Belgium," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(4), pages 803-808, August.
    2. Jansen-van der Weide, Marijke Catharina & Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje Dorien & van der Wal, Gerrit, 2004. "Implementation of the project `Support and Consultation on Euthanasia in The Netherlands' (SCEN)," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 365-373, September.
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    1. Sigrid Dierickx & Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen & Yolanda Penders & Joachim Cohen & Agnes van der Heide & Milo A. Puhan & Sarah Ziegler & Georg Bosshard & Luc Deliens & Kenneth Chambaere, 2020. "Commonalities and differences in legal euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in three countries: a population-level comparison," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(1), pages 65-73, January.

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