Exploring the attitudes of 185 respondents toward euthanasia, this 1990 cross-sectional pilot study utilized 12 survey questions addressing participants' demographic profiles and 18 focusing on: abortion; capital punishment; euthanasia; sterilization; and suicide. Cross-tabulation of structural, behavioral and attitudinal variables revealed age and education were the key factors in this study's...

The essay opens with some background information about the context of euthanasia in Belgium. It proceeds by discussing the Belgian law on euthanasia and concerns about the law, its interpretations and implementation. Finally, the major developments and controversies since the law came into effect are discussed. Suggestions as to how to improve the Belgian law and circumscribe the practice of eu...

Two new studies have investigated trends in euthanasia and assisted suicide in Belgium and the Netherlands. Marianne Snijdewind and colleagues’ study focused on practices at a Dutch clinic for people whose previous requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide have satisfi ed the legal requirements but have nonetheless been rejected. During the first year, the clinic answered 645 requests for eut...

Dr Farsides entitles her editorial Palliative care-a euthanasia-free zone.' This is a misleading title in view of the fact that the whole of medicine and nursing in the United Kingdom and most of the rest of the world are currently euthanasia-free zones, for not only is it currently illegal in those areas, but also the professional organisations (for example the British Medical Association and ...

RATIONALE This study aimed to investigate the quality of reporting of anesthesia and euthanasia in experimental studies in small laboratory mammals published in the top ten impact factor journals. METHODS A descriptive systematic review was conducted and data was abstracted from the ten highest ranked journals with respect to impact factor in the categories 'Anesthesiology', 'Critical Care Me...

OBJECTIVES To identify patterns in euthanasia requests and practices relating to psychiatric patients; to generate recommendations for future research. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data obtained through medical file review. SETTING Outpatient psychiatric clinical setting in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, between October 2007 and December 2011; follow-up at the end of December 201...

INTRODUCTION When psychiatric patients express a wish for euthanasia, this should first and foremost be interpreted as a cry for help. Due to their close day-to-day relationship, psychiatric nurses may play an important and central role in responding to such requests. However, little is known about nurses' attitudes towards euthanasia motivated by unbearable mental suffering. OBJECTIVES The a...

BACKGROUND Euthanasia remains a controversial topic in both public discourses and legislation. Although some determinants of acceptance of euthanasia and physician-assisted death have been identified in previous studies, there is still a shortage of information whether different forms of euthanasia are supported by the same or different sub-populations and whether authoritarian personality disp...