Journal of Clinical Research & Bioethics

Abstract

Ethical Issues of the Practice of ‘Medicide, Suicide and Laicide’ in the Netherlands after the Euthanasia Law of 2002

Kimsma Gk

In June 2015 a proposed framework has been published on developments in the way people die in the Netherlands after both regulations (since 1997) and a `Euthanasia Law’ (since 2002) made it possible to help people die without repercussions for physicians. This framework with the central terms ‘medicide, suicide and laicide’ was intended as a descriptive model with a focus on the main actors (physicians, people themselves and non-medical/family persons) and actions in the area of end-of-life decision-making.
The following article elaborates on this descriptive model, described here in brief, with the aim to investigate ethical aspects of the current practice in the light of the past ethical arguments in favor or against physician-assisted dying (PAD) and reexamine their significance in the light of this practice and its empirical research over almost 20 years.