Euthanasia in the Netherlands.
A review of two decades of euthanasia advocacy reveals that the arguments in favor of euthanasia are not consistent. Although the Dutch debate on euthanasia started as a protest against contemporary medicine's power over death and dying, the general acceptance of euthanasia and recent litigation may have increased medical power by shifting the balance further in the direction of physicians. This article argues that the anxieties of some of the opponents of a euthanasia bill were justified.
ten Have
H A
HA
Department of Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, Catholic University of Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Welie
J V
JV
D001293:Attitude to Death; D003657:Decision Making; D036262:Empirical Research; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D033182:Intention; D009426:Netherlands; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012922:Social Change; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D028761:Withholding Treatment