BIOETYKA / WPROWADZENIE

BIOETYKA / WPROWADZENIE - Przeglądy aktów prawnych

All about euthanasia – Government of Netherlands 2014

Physician not obliged to perform euthanasia

Physicians are not obliged to grant a request for euthanasia. A physician who does not want to perform the procedure himself should discuss this with the patient and may decide to refer him to another physician.

Do not resuscitate medallion

A DNR (do not resuscitate) medallion indicates an individuals’ wish not be to resuscitated in a medical emergency. Members of the Right to Die - NL (NVVE) can request a DNR. Each medallion bears the name, date of birth, signature and photograph of the bearer and thereby fulfils all the statutory requirements for a written directive.

Euthanasia and newborn infants

The law permits physicians to terminate the lives of newborn infants and to perform late-term abortion only on condition that they fulfill the following due care criteria:

• In the light of prevailing medical opinion, the child’s suffering must be unbearable and with no prospect of improvement. This means that the decision to discontinue treatment is justified. There must be no doubt about the diagnosis and prognosis;

• Both the physician and the parents must be convinced that there is no reasonable alternative solution given the child’s situation;

• The parents must have given their consent for the termination of life;

• The parents must have been fully informed of the diagnosis and prognosis;

• At least one other, independent physician must have examined the child and given a written opinion on compliance with the due care criteria listed above

• The termination must be performed with all due care.