Role and involvement of life end information forum physicians in euthanasia and other end-of-life care decisions in Flanders, Belgium.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To describe role and involvement of Life End Information Forum (LEIF) physicians in end-of-life care decisions and euthanasia in Flanders.

STUDY DESIGN:

All 132 LEIF physicians in Belgium received a questionnaire inquiring about their activities in the past year, and their end-of-life care training and experience.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:

Response rate was 75 percent. Most respondents followed substantive training in end-of-life care. In 1 year, LEIF physicians were contacted 612 times for consultations in end-of-life decisions, of which 355 concerned euthanasia requests eventually resulting in 221 euthanasia cases. LEIF physicians also gave information about various end-of-life issues (including palliative care) to patients and colleagues.

CONCLUSIONS:

LEIF physicians provide a forum for information and advice for physicians and patients. A similar health service providing support to physicians for all end-of-life decisions could also be beneficial for countries without a euthanasia law.

• Authors: Yanna Van Wesemael, Joachim Cohen, Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Johan Bilsen, Wim Distelmans, Luc Deliens
• Journal: Health services research (Health Serv Res) Vol. 44 Issue 6 Pg. 2180-92 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1475-6773 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19780854 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Attitude to Death
• Belgium
• Decision Making
• Euthanasia
• Group Processes
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Physician's Role
• Physicians (psychology)
• Referral and Consultation
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Terminally Ill