Terminal Sedation in the Netherlands
Authors: Judith A.C. Rietjens, Agnes van der Heide, Gerrit van der Wal
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters21 December 2004Terminal Sedation in the NetherlandsJudith A.C. Rietjens, MSc, Agnes van der Heide, MD, PhD, and Gerrit van der Wal, MD, PhDJudith A.C. Rietjens, MScFrom Erasmus MC, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this author, Agnes van der Heide, MD, PhDFrom Erasmus MC, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this author, and Gerrit van der Wal, MD, PhDFrom Erasmus MC, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-12-200412210-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Regarding Dr. Glick's comments, alleviation of severe symptoms by deep sedation is a rather frequently applied medical procedure for terminal patients, in the Netherlands as well as in other countries (1). We have shown that deep sedation is typically used for patients who are close to death and who have severe symptoms. Most of these patients wouldn't receive artificial nutrition or hydration regardless of whether they are sedated because they are in the dying phase. Forgoing artificial nutrition or hydration is usually not based on an explicit decision in these cases, certainly not on a decision that resembles ...References1. Sykes N, Thorns A. The use of opioids and sedatives at the end of life. Lancet Oncol. 2003;4:312-8. [PMID: 12732169] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Haverkate I, van der Heide A, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, van der Maas PJ, van der Wal G. The emotional impact on physicians of hastening the death of a patient. Med J Aust. 2001;175:519-22. [PMID: 11795538] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Judith A.C. Rietjens, MSc; Agnes van der Heide, MD, PhD; Gerrit van der Wal, MD, PhDAffiliations: From Erasmus MC, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPhysician Reports of Terminal Sedation without Hydration or Nutrition for Patients Nearing Death in the Netherlands Judith A.C. Rietjens , Agnes van der Heide , Astrid M. Vrakking , Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen , Paul J. van der Maas , and Gerrit van der Wal Terminal Sedation in the Netherlands Shimon M. Glick Terminal Sedation in the Netherlands Zbigniew Zylicz Metrics Cited byDignity, Compassion, Care, and Safety Valves at the End-of-Life - Marc Groenhuijsen and Floris van Laanen (eds.), Euthanasia in International and Comparative Perspective [Nijmegen: Wolf Legal Publishers, 2006] 283 pp. 21 December 2004Volume 141, Issue 12Page: 966-967KeywordsDrugsEuthanasiaFearNutritionPatient advocacySedation ePublished: 21 December 2004 Issue Published: 21 December 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...