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11.07.2019 | Original article

Commonalities and differences in legal euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in three countries: a population-level comparison

verfasst von: Sigrid Dierickx, Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Yolanda Penders, Joachim Cohen, Agnes van der Heide, Milo A. Puhan, Sarah Ziegler, Georg Bosshard, Luc Deliens, Kenneth Chambaere

Erschienen in: International Journal of Public Health | Ausgabe 1/2020

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Abstract

Objectives

To describe and compare euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) practice in Flanders, Belgium (BE), the Netherlands (NL) and Switzerland (CH).

Methods

Mortality follow-back surveys among attending physicians of a random sample of death certificates.

Results

We studied 349 EAS deaths in BE (4.6% of all deaths), 851 in NL (4.6% of all deaths) and 65 in CH (1.4% of all deaths). People who died by EAS were mostly aged 65 or older (BE: 81%, NL: 77% and CH: 71%) and were mostly diagnosed with cancer (BE: 57% and NL: 66%). Home was the most common place of death in NL (79%), while in BE and CH, more variation was found regarding to place of death. The decision to perform EAS was more frequently discussed with a colleague physician in BE (93%) and NL (90%) than in CH (60%).

Conclusions

EAS practice characteristics vary considerably in the studied countries with legal EAS. In addition to the legal context, cultural factors as well as the manner in which legislation is implemented play a role in how EAS legislation translates into practice.

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Titel: Commonalities and differences in legal euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in three countries: a population-level comparison
verfasst von: Sigrid Dierickx
Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen
Yolanda Penders
Joachim Cohen
Agnes van der Heide
Milo A. Puhan
Sarah Ziegler
Georg Bosshard
Luc Deliens
Kenneth Chambaere
Publikationsdatum: 11.07.2019
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Erschienen in: International Journal of Public Health / Ausgabe 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Elektronische ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01281-6

Live-Webinar "Urologie und Sexualmedizin in der Praxis"

Springer Medizin

Commonalities and differences in legal euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in three countries: a population-level comparison

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Live-Webinar "Urologie und Sexualmedizin in der Praxis"

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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