• Jan Schildmann, Julia Hoetzel, Christof Mueller-Busch, and Jochen Vollmann.
• Institute for Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Malakowturm-Markstr. 258a, 44799 Bochum, Germany. jan.schildmann@rub.de
• Palliat Med. 2010 Dec 1; 24 (8): 820-7.

ObjectivesTo elicit types and frequencies of end-of-life practices by physician members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine. To analyse associations between characteristics of physicians and patients and end-of-life practices with intended hastening of death.DesignCross-sectional postal survey.Main Outcome MeasuresTypes and frequencies of end-of-life practices with foreseeable or intended hastening of patients' death. Association between end-of-life practices with hastening of death and predefined characteristics of physicians and patients.ResultsNine hundred and one physicians participated in the study (response rate: 55.8%). There was alleviation of symptoms in 78.1% and limitation of medical treatment with possible life shortening in 69.1% of cases. In 10 cases medication had been administered by the physician (N = 9) or the patient (N = 1) with the intention to hasten death. Patients' best interest and avoidance of possible harm to the patient were reported as reasons for non-involvement of competent patients in decision making. Physicians with added qualification in palliative medicine significantly less frequently reported end-of-life practices with intended hastening of death (p = 0.003).ConclusionPhysician members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine perform a broad spectrum of end-of-life practices including intended hastening of death. The findings on patients' non-involvement in decision making warrant further empirical-ethical analysis.

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