Abstract

Cases of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide Among AIDS Patients Reported to the Public Prosecutor in North Holland

Onwuteaka-Philipsen B D~~van der Wal G

Year: 1998 Source: Public Health, v.112, no.1, (January 1998), p.53-56 SIEC No: 19980467

The relationship between euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide & AIDS was examined in a retrospective study. All cases of euthanasia & assisted suicide reported to the Public Prosecutor in North Holland between 1984-93 were studied. In 7% of cases, the patient had AIDS & in most cases the physician involved was a general practitioner. Both the percentage of AIDS patients among these cases & the percentage of euthanasia/assisted suicide among all AIDS deaths increased over the study period.