What happens after a request for euthanasia is refused? Qualitative interviews with patients, relatives and physicians

Conclusions: Patients who are refused EAS may subsequently be silent about a wish to die without abandoning it. Open communication about wishes to die is important, even outside the context of EAS, because if people feel unable to talk about them, their quality of life may be further diminished.Practice implications: Follow up appointments after refusal could give patients the opportunity to discuss their feelings and physicians to support them.

Source: Patient Education and Counseling - July 8, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Authors: H. Roeline W. Pasman, Dick L. Willems, Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen Tags: Complexity of Health Care: Ethics and Communication Source Type: research