Johan Bilsen

End-of-life decisions in medical practice in Flanders, Belgium: a nationwide survey

BACKGROUNDnOur study is a repeat of the Dutch death-certificate study on end-of-life decisions (ELDs). The main objective was to estimate the frequency of euthanasia (the administration of lethal drugs with the explicit intention of shortening the patients life at the patients explicit request), physician-assisted suicide (PAS), and other ELDs in medical practice in Flanders, Belgium.nnnMETHODSnA 20% random sample of 3999 deaths was selected from all deaths recorded between Jan 1 and April 30, 1998. The physicians who signed the corresponding death certificates received one questionnaire by post per death.nnnFINDINGSnThe physicians response rate was 1355 (52%). 1925 deaths were described. The results were corrected for non-response bias, and extrapolated to estimated annual rates after seasonal adjustment for death causes, and we estimate that 705 (1.3%, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) deaths resulted from euthanasia or PAS. In 1796 (3.2%, 2.7-3.8) cases, lethal drugs were given without the explicit request of the patient. Alleviation of pain and symptoms with opioids in doses with a potential life-shortening effect preceded death in 10,416 (18.5%, 17.3-19.7) cases and non-treatment decisions in 9218 (16.4%, 15.3-17.5) cases, of which 3261 (5.8%, 5.1-6.5) with the explicit intention of ending the patients life.nnnINTERPRETATIONnELDs are prominent in medical practice in Flanders. The frequency of deaths preceded by an ELD is similar to that in the Netherlands, but lower than that in Australia. However, in Flanders the rate of administration of lethal drugs to patients without their explicit request is similar to Australia, and significantly higher than that in the Netherlands.

Attitudes, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Actual End-of-Life Decisions of Physicians in Flanders, Belgium

Aim. To study the effect of sociodemographic and attitudinal determinants of physicians making end-of-life decisions (ELDs). Methods. The physicians having signed 489 consecutive death certificates in the city of Hasselt (Belgium) were sent an anonymous questionnaire regarding their ELDs and another on their attitudes toward voluntary euthanasia (EUTH) and physician-assisted suicide (PAS).Results.55% response rate. Nontreatment decisions occurred in 16.7% of all death cases; in 16%, there was potentially life-shortening use of drugs to alleviate pain and symptoms; in 4.8% of cases,death was deliberately induced by lethal drugs, including EUTH, PAS, and life termination without explicit request by the patient. In their attitudes toward EUTH and PAS, the 92 responding physicians clustered into 3 groups: positive and rule oriented, positive rule-adverse, and opposed. Cluster groupmembership, commitment to life stance, years of professional experience, and gender were each associated with specific ELD-making patterns.

End-of-life Decisions of Physicians in the City of Hasselt (Flanders, Belgium)

OBJECTIVESnThe objective of this study is to estimate the proportion of different types of end-of-life decisions (ELDs) of physicians in the city of Hasselt (Flanders, Belgium). The question is addressed to what degree these ELD meet legal constraints and the ethical requirements for prudent practice.nnnMETHODOLOGYnAll physicians of the city of Hasselt who signed at least one death certificate in 1996 (N=166) received an anonymous self-administered mail questionnaire per death case (max. 5/doctor).nnnRESULTSnThe response rate was 55% (N=269). In 37.3% of all cases at least one ELD was made (16.5% non-treatment decisions; 16% potential life-shortening by intensifying the treatment of pain and symptoms; 4.8% administration, supply or prescription of lethal drugs). In 59.5% of the cases where an ELD was made that decision was legally questionnable. Patient characteristics were clearly related to the type of ELD. There was no influence of physician characteristics, except for commitment to life-stance. In 71.3% of the cases the ELD was in no way discussed with the patient. 8.1% of the ELD-cases were in response to a direct request from the patient.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe incidences of ELDs in Hasselt are consistent with earlier findings. The study shows that religious commitment influences the behaviour of physicians at the end of their patients life. The patients and her familys entitlements to participation in the decision making process were rather poorly respected.

Living Alone During Cancer Treatment An Exploration of Patients’ Experiences

The social environment is an important determinant in the overall experience of having cancer. The purpose of this article is to identify how patients experience living alone during their cancer treatment. Using qualitative methods based on grounded theory techniques, we interviewed a sample of 32 cancer patients. Living alone was an ambiguous experience during cancer treatment: patients experienced both a lack of support as well a gain in privacy, freedom, and know-how. Living alone was also seen as a constitutive element of the patients’ identity. Consequently, patients saw living alone as either a threat or as a resource for their adjustment to cancer treatment. These divergent meanings of living alone did share one common attribute, which was that staying independent was their key goal during cancer treatment. Health care providers should be attentive to the heterogeneous aspects of the experience of living alone when critically appraising the independence of patients.

Implementatie van niet-reanimeerbeleid op afdelingen acute geriatrie van Vlaamse ziekenhuizen in 2002 nog niet voltooid

Do-Not-Resuscitate Policy on Acute Geriatric Wards in Flanders, Belgium. This study describes the historical development and status of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) policy on acute geriatric wards in Flanders, Belgium. In 2002 (the year Belgium voted a law on euthanasia), a structured mail questionnaire was sent to all head geriatricians of acute geriatric wards in Flanders (N=94). Respondents were asked about the existence, development, and implementation of the DNR policy (guidelines and order forms).The response was 76.6%. Development of DNR policy began in 1985, with a step-up in 1997 and 2001. In 2002, a DNR policy was available in 86.1% of geriatric wards, predominantly with institutional DNR guidelines and individual, patient-specific DNR order forms. The policy was initiated and developed predominantly from an institutional perspective by the hospital. The forms were not standardized and generally lacked room to document patient involvement in the decision making process.Implementation of institutional DNR guidelines and individual DNR order forms on geriatric wards in Flanders lagged behind that of other countries and was still incomplete in 2002. DNR policies varied in content and scope and were predominantly an expression of institutional defensive attitudes rather than a tool to promote patient involvement in DNR and other end-of-life decisions.Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr 2007; 38: 246-254SamenvattingDeze studie beschrijft de beschikbaarheid en historische ontwikkeling van niet-reanimeer (NR) beleid op afdelingen voor acute geriatrie in ziekenhuizen in Vlaanderen. Via een gestructureerde postenquête, verstuurd naar alle diensthoofden geriatrie in Vlaanderen in 2002 (N=94), werd de aanwezigheid, ontwikkeling en implementatie van NR-beleid (richtlijnen en codebladen) op de afdeling voor geriatrie bevraagd. Het responspercentage bedroeg 76,6%. De ontwikkeling van NR-beleid startte in 1985, en nam sterk toe in de jaren 1997 en 2001. In 2002 was op 86,1% van de afdelingen een NR-beleid aanwezig, meestal in de vorm van zowel institutionele richtlijnen als patiënt-specifieke codebladen. Het initiatief tot en de ontwikkeling van het NR-beleid kwam vooral tot stand vanuit het ziekenhuis. De formulieren waren niet gestandardiseerd en er was zelden plaats om de mate van betrokkenheid van de patiënt in het besluitvormingsproces te noteren. In vergelijking met andere landen kwam in Vlaanderen de ontwikkeling van NR-richtlijnen en -codebladen op ziekenhuisafdelingen voor acute geriatrie laat op gang. Het was nog steeds onvolledig in 2002. De documenten verschilden sterk qua inhoud en doel en waren eerder de uitdrukking van een defensieve houding van de instelling dan een instrument om de betrokkenheid van patiënten in beslissingen rond het levenseinde aan te moedigen.