2015-22, general practitioner, combination of disorders, exercising due medical care

KEY POINTS: emergency set of substances, straightforward notification

When performing euthanasia, the physician administered 2000mg of thiopental intravenously, followed by 150mg of rocuronium. Because the patient did not die, after approximately 20 minutes the physician administered the contents of the emergency set, after which the patient died. The physician performed the euthanasia with due medical care.

The patient, a woman over the age of 95, had suffered for years from angina pectoris, osteoporosis and compressed vertebrae. Her symptoms were progressive. She also suffered from progressive asthma and recurrent pneumonia. The patient’s condition deteriorated in the months preceding her death. Her condition was incurable. She could only be treated palliatively. The patient experienced her suffering as unbearable.

The patient had discussed euthanasia with the physician before. Six days before her death, the patient asked the physician to actually perform the procedure to terminate her life.

The physician performed the termination of life on request by intravenous administration of 2000mg of thiopental and 150mg of rocuronium. When the patient had not died after approximately 20 minutes, probably because the cannula had been inserted subcutaneously instead of intravenously, the physician administered the emergency set, consisting of 2000mg of thiopental followed by 150mg of rocuronium, via a different intravenous access site, after which the patient died.

The physician performed the euthanasia with due medical care.