Experiences and views of Dutch general practitioners regarding physician-assisted death for patients suffering from severe mental illness: a mixed methods approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the Netherlands, physician-assisted death (PAD) is allowed under certain conditions. Patients who suffer from mental illnesses are not excluded from this practice. In 2018, general practitioners (GPs) performed 20 out of a total of 67 cases of EAS for psychiatric suffering.

Objective

More insight into GPs' experiences and views with regard to PAD in psychiatry.

Design

The data for this study were obtained through a survey amongst 500 randomly selected Dutch GPs and by in-depth interviews with 20 Dutch GPs.

Setting

A survey study and in-depth interviews.

Subjects

Dutch GPs.

Results

86 out of 101 GPs found it conceivable to perform EAS in case of somatic disease, and 51 out of 104 GPs found it conceivable in the case a patient suffered

SUBMITTER: Pronk R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8293937 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature