Euthanasia: The role of the psychiatrist

Naudts, Kris; Ducatelle, Caroline; Kovacs, Jozsef; Laurens, Kristin; Van Den Eynde, Frederique; Van Heeringen, Cornelis

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.105.010256

Cited by 52Palliative and Oncologic CareEthics and bioethics in healthcarePalliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

Euthanasia: The role of the psychiatrist

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Naudts, Kris, Ducatelle, Caroline, Kovacs, Jozsef, Laurens, Kristin, Van Den Eynde, Frederique, Van Heeringen, Cornelis·2006·British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.010256

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Abstract

Belgium has become one of the few countries in the world where euthanasia is legally allowed within a specific juridical framework. Even more unique is the inclusion of grounds for requesting euthanasia on the basis of mental suffering. Further refinement of the legal, medical and psychiatric approach to the issue is required in order to clear up essential practical and ethical matters. Psychiatrists and their professional organisations need to play a greater role in this ongoing debate and contribute from a clinical, scientific and ethical point of view.

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There is fear that gradual expansion of laws governing MAiD could lead to abuses.
“The fear that the gradual expansion of the laws governing MAiD could lead to abuses is also noted [25, 26].”
From Medical assistance in dying for people living with mental disorders: a qualitative thematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [26]
The Ethical issues section notes a fear that gradual social acceptance of euthanasia could lead to less careful decisions, and separately describes a serious potential for abuse. It does not say that gradual expansion of MAiD laws is what could lead to those abuses; its concern is about social acceptance of the practice. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Healthcare professionals' involvement or support of MAiD-MD could affect patients' resilience and the therapeutic relationship and potentially influence the patient to lose hope that their situation will improve.
“Healthcare professionals’ involvement or support of MAiD-MD could also affect the resilience of patients [60], the therapeutic relationship [26, 48, 60] and potentially influence the patient to lose hope that their situation will improve if they have the impression that the healthcare professional is abandoning the therapeutic project [23, 37].”
From Medical assistance in dying for people living with mental disorders: a qualitative thematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [26]
The Guidelines section says that when the treating psychiatrist also provides euthanasia, the therapeutic relationship makes the situation highly complex and calls for caution. This supports a possible effect on the relationship, but our copy does not say that involvement reduces patients’ resilience. The loss-of-hope clause is attributed to other citations in the printed sentence, not to this paper. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
The clinical assessment of these criteria is very difficult and extreme care should be required before a request from a psychiatric patient for euthanasia for psychological suffering is granted.
“As a result, the clinical assessment of these criteria is very difficult and extreme care should be required before a request from a psychiatric patient for euthanasia for psychological suffering is granted (Naudts et al., 2006).”
From Psychiatric patients requesting euthanasia: Guidelines for sound clinical and ethical decision making (2019) · cites this paper as Naudts et al., 2006

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Authors: Naudts, K., Ducatelle, C., Kovacs, J., Laurens, K., Van Den Eynde, F., & Van Heeringen, C.
Affiliations: King's College London (GB)
Ghent University (BE)
Corresponding author: Naudts, Kris
ORCID: Laurens, Kristin
Venue: British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published: 2006-05
Volume: 188
Issue: 5
Pages: 405-409
ISSN: 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
1472-1465
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.010256
OpenAlex: W2123890470
Cited by: 52
References: 32
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
FWCI: 2.00
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 4264 d)
Locations: The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders: University of Oxford
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Keywords: euthanasia, role of psychiatrists, psychological suffering, euthanasia legislation, ethics of euthanasia, professional organisations, Belgium
MeSH terms: Attitude of Health Personnel, Mental Disorders, Belgium, Ethics, Medical, Humans, Informed Consent, Netherlands, Psychiatry, Referral and Consultation, Suicide, Assisted, Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary

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Euthanasia: The role of the psychiatrist

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