title: Psychiatric consultation and quality of decision making in euthanasia.
abstract: The role of undiagnosed psychiatric disorders in patients requesting euthanasia is an important ethical and professional issue. From June, 1997, until June, 1999, we included a psychiatric consultation as part of our standard procedure for handling euthanasia requests. Of 22 cancer patients who requested euthanasia at short notice: ten had their longstanding and well-considered wish for euthanasia granted; six were denied euthanasia because they did not have such a wish; five were denied because of psychiatric problems; and one was granted the wish despite minor psychiatric symptoms. Our findings suggest that a psychiatrist should be consulted if the treatment team has doubts about a patient's state of mind.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bannink
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Van Gool
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Heide
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van der Maas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012017:Referral and Consultation