Reporting of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands: descriptive study

BMC Medical Ethics

Table 3 Characteristics of the presence of reasonable alternatives. (questions phrased from the standard form of the reporting physician)

	n = 158 %
What had been done in terms of palliative care? ¹
Medication	89
Radio- or chemotherapy	21
Other²	46
Not clearly specified in the report	1
Were there (other) possibilities to relieve the patient's suffering? ¹
Yes:	35³
Administration of sedatives	10
Other pain medication	11
Radio- or chemotherapy	3
Intensive home care/family care	2
Other	10
How did the patient feel about these alternatives?
	n = 56
Positive	4
Negative	81
Other	13
Not clearly specified in the report	2

1. One or more answers could be given.
2. Other include: oxygen administration, artificial respiration, artificial administration of food and fluids, blood transfusions, home care, surgery, stoma, administration of sedatives, talks with the patient.
3. In three cases, the question was answered affirmatively but not further explained.

ISSN: 1472-6939