Hi everyone,
First of all I hate the title 'assisted suicide' when euthanasia is
meant. At least I assume that is what Andy is writing about.
Suicide can be at all stages of a person's life, euthanasia can only
be when a patient suffers badly from a terminal disease, without a
chance of improving. In this sense, assisted suicide is therefore in
the Netherlands is NOT accepted.
There is a whole set of regulations for Doctors in NL, to adhere to if
they want to help a patient with euthenasia. From the top of my
head:
- The GP must know the patient.
- The patient must suffer from an incurable disease, from which
he/she cannot recover (usually cancer), and should be in a more or
less terminal stage.
- The family or caregiver should be informed and more or less
consent.
- A second GP should confirm the findings of the first and agree
with the fact that the patient suffers badly, is not likely to recover,
and in the final stage of the disease.
Then the request goes to the pharmacy, or rather to the pharmacist
personally.
The pharmacist must convince him/herself that the GP has
dioscussed thoroughly with the patient, and has consulted a
second GP who agreed.
When the patient is still able to swallow and not nauseated, then a
potion will be prepared. If the patient cannot swallow or will most
probably be nauseated by the potion, then the pharmacist will
agree on dispensing injections.
There is a specific code of ethics for co-operation on euthanasia, to
which also the pharmacist has to stick, developped by the KNMP,
the Dutch pharmacist organisation. This code also describes
basically only two options of proven efficacy: one specific potion
and one specific combination of injections.
The medication is always dispensed in the hand of the doctor, by
the pharmacist him/herself. Of course a pharmacist will only co-
operate if he is familiar with the GP.
If the pharmacist refuses co-operation for personal reasons, it is a
good habit that the GP is referred & introduced to a collegue who
will not have mental or ethical objections. This is also part of the
code.
Foppe
**************************************************************
Foppe van Mil, PhD, Pharm D. Community pharmacist and researcher
Margrietlaan 1, NL 9471 CT Zuidlaren, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 50 4094333. Fax +31 50 4090732. Email: jwfvmil@wxs.nl
**************************************************************
|