BMJ  2003;327 (26 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7408.0-b

Bereaved people cope better after euthanasia than natural death

Friends and family of cancer patients who died by euthanasia cope better than those of cancer patients who died a natural death. Swarte and colleagues (p 189) conducted a cross sectional study in the Netherlands with the bereaved of patients who had died by euthanasia, comparing them to the bereaved of matched control patients who had died of natural causes in the same hospital during the same time period. The bereaved of patients who died by euthanasia had fewer grief symptoms and post-traumatic stress reactions on standard scales. The opportunity to say goodbye to the patient was an important factor in better coping. The authors say that their results are a plea not for euthanasia but for support for the same level of care and openness for all cancer patients who are terminally ill.

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Relevant Article

Effects of euthanasia on the bereaved family and friends: a cross sectional study

Nikkie B Swarte, Marije L van der Lee, Johanna G van der Bom, Jan van den Bout, and A Peter M Heintz
BMJ 2003 327: 189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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