This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (64)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

M. A. M. de Wachter, PhD

JAMA. 1989;262(23):3316-3319.

Abstract
Active euthanasia in the Netherlands remains a topic for both professional and public debate. However, many aspects of the medical practice of active euthanasia remain unclear, and no figures on the actual incidence of this practice exist. Legally, active euthanasia is a criminal offense, but a pattern of jurisprudence has developed since the first court case in 1973 that has allowed physicians to practice euthanasia under certain strict conditions. Two proposals, one from the Royal Dutch Medical Association and one from a government-appointed state commission, have advised that the current law be changed. While the debate continues, a number of Dutch institutions have developed procedures and policies to enable physicians and health care providers to participate in active euthanasia in an acceptable and controllable manner. However, many Dutch physicians remain uncomfortable with the professional and public tolerance of this practice.

(JAMA. 1989;262:3316-3319)

Author Affiliations
From the Institute for Bioethics, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Institute for Bioethics, Servaas Klooster No. 39, PO Box 778, 6200 AT Maastricht, the Netherlands (Dr de Wachter).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

The Empirical Slippery Slope from Voluntary to Non-Voluntary Euthanasia
Lewis
J Law Med Ethics 2007;35:197-210.
 

Euthanasia revisited
Chao et al.
Fam Pract 2002;19:128-134.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Practice of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in the United States: Adherence to Proposed Safeguards and Effects on Physicians
Emanuel et al.
JAMA 1998;280:507-513.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

What Are the Potential Cost Savings from Legalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide?
Emanuel and Battin
NEJM 1998;339:167-172.
FULL TEXT  

Palliative Options of Last Resort: A Comparison of Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking, Terminal Sedation, Physician-Assisted Suicide, and Voluntary Active Euthanasia
Quill et al.
JAMA 1997;278:2099-2104.
ABSTRACT  

Oregon's Physician-Assisted Suicide Law: Provisions and Problems
Emanuel and Emanuel
Arch Intern Med 1996;156:825-829.
ABSTRACT  

Euthanasia: Historical, Ethical, and Empiric Perspectives
Emanuel
Arch Intern Med 1994;154:1890-1901.
ABSTRACT  

Treating Patients Who Request Assisted Suicide: A Closer Look at the Physician's Role
Peteet
Arch Fam Med 1994;3:723-727.
ABSTRACT  

Pediatric Euthanasia
Orlowski et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1992;146:1440-1446.
ABSTRACT  

Decisions Near the End of Life
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs et al.
JAMA 1992;267:2229-2233.
ABSTRACT  

Ethics
Pellegrino
JAMA 1991;265:3118-3119.
ABSTRACT  

Ethics and hospice physicians
Miller
AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE 1991;8:17-26.
 

Changing Attitudes and Practices in Forgoing Life-Sustaining Treatments
Sprung
JAMA 1990;263:2211-2215.
ABSTRACT  

The Road to Euthanasia
Carton
JAMA 1990;263:2221-2221.
ABSTRACT  

Physician Participation in Assisted Suicide-Reply
Orentlicher
JAMA 1990;263:1198-1198.
ABSTRACT