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Development and dissemination of institutional practice guidelines on medical end-of-life decisions in Dutch health care institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Hesselink, Berniek A.M.
  • Pasman, H. Roeline W.
  • van der Wal, Gerrit
  • van der Maas, Paul J.
  • van der Heide, Agnes
  • Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje D.

Abstract

Objectives To describe how Dutch healthcare institutions develop and disseminate institutional practice guidelines on medical end-of-life decisions and policy statements on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) to relevant parties, and to describe supportiveness of EAS guidelines experienced by Dutch physicians.Methods Questionnaires to all Dutch health care institutions in 2005. Questionnaire to sample of Dutch clinical specialists and nursing home physicians.Results In most health care institutions, physicians (79%), ethics committees (79%), board of directors (64%) and nurses (61%) were involved in the development of guidelines. The Euthanasia Act and national guidelines were the most frequently reported sources for the development (73% and 71%, respectively). Not all institutions disseminated their written EAS policy statements and practice guidelines on medical end-of-life decisions to all relevant parties. Dutch physicians who reported the presence of a written guideline for EAS in their institution, felt supported by it in their decision-making after a patient's request for EAS.Conclusions It is recommended that more health care institutions pay attention to the dissemination of their policy statements and practice guidelines to relevant parties. This will only lead to improvement in medical practice if this is accompanied by efforts to also stimulate the use of guidelines in practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Hesselink, Berniek A.M. & Pasman, H. Roeline W. & van der Wal, Gerrit & van der Maas, Paul J. & van der Heide, Agnes & Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje D., 2010. "Development and dissemination of institutional practice guidelines on medical end-of-life decisions in Dutch health care institutions," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(3), pages 230-238, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:94:y:2010:i:3:p:230-238
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bilsen, Johan & Vander Stichele, Robert & Broeckaert, Bert & Mortier, Freddy & Deliens, Luc, 2007. "Changes in medical end-of-life practices during the legalization process of euthanasia in Belgium," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(4), pages 803-808, August.
    2. Pasman, H. Roeline W. & Wolf, Johanna E. Hanssen-de & Hesselink, Berniek A.M. & van der Heide, Agnes & van der Wal, Gerrit & van der Maas, Paul J. & Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje D., 2009. "Policy statements and practice guidelines for medical end-of-life decisions in Dutch health care institutions: Developments in the past decade," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(1), pages 79-88, September.
    3. Lemiengre, Joke & Dierckx de Casterlé, Bernadette & Verbeke, Geert & Van Craen, Katleen & Schotsmans, Paul & Gastmans, Chris, 2008. "Ethics policies on euthanasia in nursing homes: A survey in Flanders, Belgium," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 376-386, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Close, Eliana & Willmott, Lindy & White, Ben P, 2021. "Regulating voluntary assisted dying practice: A policy analysis from Victoria, Australia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(11), pages 1455-1474.

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