2019-67, due care criteria complied with

Non-straightforward notification, full report of findings, patient with multiple geriatric syndromes.

The patient, a woman over 90 years of age, had suffered from various conditions for a considerable time. Her suffering consisted of chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis (a specific form of arthritis), for which she took opiates. This led to untreatable abdominal problems. In addition her eyesight had seriously deteriorated, she was hard of hearing, she could not move around and suffered from fatigue and weight loss. Due to her disabilities, the patient sat at home in a chair all day with no daytime activities at all. For instance, she was no longer able to watch television, do needlework or read a book. She dreaded every single day and felt it was degrading that her condition was deteriorating with no prospect of improvement. The patient’s condition was incurable. She could only be treated palliatively.

The patient experienced her suffering as unbearable. The physician was satisfied that this suffering was unbearable to her and with no prospect of improvement according to prevailing medical opinion. There were no alternative ways to alleviate her suffering that were acceptable to the patient.

The patient had discussed euthanasia before with the physician and others who treated her. More than two months before her death, the patient asked the physician to actually perform the procedure to terminate her life. She repeated her request several times. The physician concluded that the request was voluntary and well considered.

The committee noted that in cases involving a patient with multiple geriatric,syndromes, these multiple syndromes may cause unbearable suffering without prospect of improvement. It is the sum of these problems, in conjunction with the patient’s medical history, life history, personality, values and stamina, that may give rise to suffering which that particular patient experiences as being unbearable and without prospect of improvement. On the basis of the information provided by the physician, the committee found that the physician could be satisfied that there was a medical dimension to the patient’s suffering and that the patient was suffering unbearably and without prospect of improvement as a result of the multiple geriatric syndromes.

The committee found that the physician had acted in accordance with the due care criteria.