Box 1 The arguments that were provided in the 2007 study (n = 10)—including 5 pro and 5 cons—and in the 2020 study (n = 4)—including 2 pro and 2 cons—marked with bold letters

Pro-arguments:

Respect for patients’ autonomy

The purpose is to minimize suffering, not shorten life

The patient’s autonomy takes precedence over the non-maleficence principle

Alternative actions that patients might use are painful

Palliative care is lacking in your region

Contra-arguments:

Patients do not know their own good in such cases

Risk of jeopardizing trust in physicians

The non-maleficence principle takes precedence over patients’ autonomy

Risk of pressure on patients who do not want to become a burden to relatives

Palliative care in your region is well established