2019-127, due care criteria complied with
Non-straightforward notification, full report of findings, patient with multiple geriatric syndromes.
The patient, a woman in her eighties, suffered from two eye conditions (glaucoma and macular degeneration) and hearing loss (presbycusis). As a result she was virtually blind, and hard of hearing. The patient’s condition was incurable. She could only be treated palliatively.
Her suffering consisted of the (socially) disabling consequences of the conditions. She suffered from loss of autonomy, the prospect of having to be admitted to a care institution and the absence of any prospect of improvement. She 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 longer any acceptable ways to alleviate the patient’s suffering.
The documents made it clear that the physician and the specialists gave her sufficient information about her situation and prognosis. The patient had discussed euthanasia with her general practitioner before. At first the general practitioner was willing to consider the request for euthanasia. Around five months before the patient’s death, a clinical psychiatrist was consulted. In the psychiatrist’s opinion the patient was not suffering from mood-related disorders. However, the general practitioner could not sympathise with her wish for euthanasia. With the support of her general practitioner, the patient then turned to the End-of-Life Clinic (SLK).
The committee found that the physician had acted in accordance with the due care criteria.