Terminal Sedation in the Netherlands
Authors: Zbigniew Zylicz
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters21 December 2004Terminal Sedation in the NetherlandsZbigniew Zylicz, MD, PhDZbigniew Zylicz, MD, PhDFrom Comprehensive Cancer Centre, 6533 AA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-12-200412210-00017 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The excellent paper by Rietjens and colleagues (1) can be criticized only for its definition of terminal sedation, which did not differentiate clearly between deep sedation in imminently dying patients and sedation as a surrogate for euthanasia. In countries like the Netherlands, there is a real risk that the cumbersome legal procedures surrounding euthanasia will be replaced by much easier (in relation to paperwork and legal responsibility) “terminal sedation.”In her related editorial (2), Muriel Gillick asked for patient vignettes to illustrate the practice of terminal sedation in the Netherlands. Terminal sedation intended as a surrogate for ...References1. Rietjens JA, van der Heide A, Vrakking AM, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, van der Maas PJ, van der Wal G. Physician reports of terminal sedation without hydration or nutrition for patients nearing death in the Netherlands. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141:178-85. [PMID: 15289214] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Gillick MR. Terminal sedation: an acceptable exit strategy? [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141:236-7. [PMID: 15289225] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, van der Heide A, Koper D, Keij-Deerenberg I, Rietjens JA, Rurup ML, et al. Euthanasia and other end-of-life decisions in the Netherlands in 1990, 1995, and 2001. Lancet. 2003;362:395-9. [PMID: 12907015] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Comprehensive Cancer Centre, 6533 AA Nijmegen, 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: An Acceptable Exit Strategy? Muriel R. Gillick Terminal Sedation in the Netherlands Judith A.C. Rietjens , Agnes van der Heide , and Gerrit van der Wal Terminal Sedation in the Netherlands Shimon M. Glick Metrics Cited ByContinuous Sedation Until Death With or Without the Intention to Hasten Death—A Nationwide Study in Nursing Homes in Flanders, BelgiumContinuous sedation until death: moral justifications of physicians and nurses—a content analysis of opinion piecesPratique de la sédation aux Pays-Bas : preuve du développement des soins palliatifs ou dérive euthanasique ? 21 December 2004Volume 141, Issue 12Page: 966KeywordsDrugsEuthanasiaMorphineNursing homesPalliative carePrimary careSedationSedatives ePublished: 21 December 2004 Issue Published: 21 December 2004 CopyrightCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...