Abstract
Purpose. In recent years the attitudes and practices of euthanasia (E) and physician‐assisted suicide (PAS) among health care workers have been evaluated in different countries. There is, however, still an information gap on the role of pharmacists in these matters. The aim of our study was to study the attitudes and practices of E and PAS among pharmacists.Methodology. We conducted a nation‐wide survey into the practice, including adherence to guidelines, of E and PAS in community and hospital pharmacies (CP and HP) in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the attitude of community pharmacists concerning this subject was evaluated. Anonymous questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 50% (n=755) of all CP and to all (n=101) HP.Results. The response rates were 52% and 51% for CP and HP, respectively. Most of the CP‐respondents (95%) agreed with the concept of E and PAS and would dispense drugs for these purposes. When the data were extrapolated to all pharmacies, there were 1351 and 340 dispensings of drugs for E and PAS per year in CP and HP (94% of all requests), respectively. In most cases the pharmacist had been notified of the condition of the patient (CP: 93%, HP 87%) and a written request was obtained (CP: 74%, HP: 79%). The drugs were often handed personally to the physician (CP: 98%, HP: 86%). Involvement of pharmacy technicians was more common in HP than in CP (31% versus 6%). The most frequently dispensed drugs were muscle relaxants with barbiturates (CP: 47%, HP 71%), barbiturates only (CP: 19%, HP: 6.1%), and muscle relaxants with benzodiazepines (CP: 14%, HP: 7.6%).Conclusion. Most pharmacists are supportive of E and PAS and are prepared to fill prescriptions written for these purposes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
van der Maas PJ, van Delden JJ, Pijnenborg L, Looman CW. Euthanasia and other medical decisions concerning the end of life. Lancet 1991;338:669–74.
van der Wal G, van Eijk JT, Leenen HJ, Spreeuwenberg C. Euthanasia and assisted suicide. I. How often is it practised by family doctors in The Netherlands? Fam Pract 1992;9:130–4.
Fried TR, Stein MD, O'sullivan PS, Brock DW, Novack DH. Limits of patient autonomy: physician attitudes and practices regarding life-sustaining treatments and euthanasia. Arch Intern Med 1993;153:722–8.
Cohen JS, Fihn SD, Boyko EJ, Jonsen AR, Wood RW. Attitudes towards assisted suicide and euthanasia among physicians in Washington State. N Engl J Med 1994;331:89–94.
Baume P, O'Malley E. Euthanasia: attitudes and practices of medical practicioners. Med J Aust 1994; 161:137,140,142–4.
Back AL, Wallace JI, Starks HE, Pearlman RA. Physician assited suicide and euthanasia in Washington State: patient request and physician responses. JAMA 1996;275:919–25.
van der Maas PJ, van der Wal G, Haverkate I, De Graaf CL, Kester JG, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, et al. Euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and other medical practices involving the end of life in the Netherlands, 1990–1995. N Engl J Med 1996;335:1699-1705.
Slome LR, Mitchell TF, Charlebois E, Moulton Benevedes J, Abrams DI. Physician-assisted suicide and patients with human immunodeficiency virus disease. N Engl J Med 1997;336:417–21.
Kuhse H, Singer P. Euthanasia: a survey of nurses' attitudes and practices. Aust Nurs J 1992;21:21–2.
Kuhse H, Singer P. Voluntary euthanasia and the nurse: an Australian survey. Int J Nurs Stud 1993;30:311–22.
Asch DA. The role of critical care nurses in euthanasia and assited suicide. N Engl J Med 1996;334:1374–9.
Vivian JC, Slaughter RL, Calissi P. Michigan pharmacists' attitudes about medically-assisted suicide. J Mich Pharm 1993;31(nov):490–3,495.
Anderson JG, Caddel DP. Attitudes of medical professionals toward euthanasia. Soc Sci Med 1993;37:105–14.
Rupp MT, Isenhower HL. Pharmacists' attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide. Am J Hosp Pharm 1994;51:69–74.
Buckley B. Pharmacists offer their views on reimbursement, illicit drugs, suicide. Pharm Times 1994;60(Apr):43–4,46.
van der Wal G, van der Maas PJ, Bosma JM, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Willems DL, Haverkate I, et al. Evaluation of the notification procedure for physician-assisted death in the Netherlands. N Engl J Med 1996;335:1706–11.
Admiraal PV. [The application of euthanasia drugs]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1995;139:265–8.
Lemmens T. Towards the right to be killed? Treatment refusal, assisted suicide and euthanasia in the United States and Canada. Br Med Bull 1996;52:341–53.
Bachman JG, Alcser KH, Doukas DJ, Lichtenstein RL, Corning AD, Brody H. Attitudes of Michigan physicians and the public toward legalizing physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. N Engl J Med 1996;334:303–9.
Berghuis F, Bolhuis B, Van Dijk ThW, Feenstra E, Feenstra J, Feunekes B, et al. 'Gedragsregels voor apothekers bij euthanasie en zelfdoding (II). Pharm Weekbl 1982;117:418–9.
Anonymous. Final report of the Dutch State Commission on Euthanasia: an English summary. Bioethics 1987;1:163–74.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lau, H., Riezebos, J., Abas, V. et al. A nation‐wide study on the practice of euthanasia and physician‐assisted suicide in community and hospital pharmacies in the Netherlands. Pharm World Sci 22, 3–9 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008705223595
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008705223595