Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Apr 1999
Practice Guideline Guideline[Physician-assisted suicide for a patient with a psychiatric disorder: guidelines for psychiatrists. Dutch Association of Psychiatry].
In September 1998, the Dutch Association of Psychiatry published guidelines for the psychiatrist concerning cases of psychiatric patients requesting assistance with suicide. Assistance with suicide is restricted to a psychiatrist in his role as a treating physician of a patient with a psychiatric disorder. Requests for assisted suicide should primarily be considered as requests for help with life. ⋯ In addition an independent psychiatrist should be consulted as well as former treating physicians, general practitioner, family members and other people involved. If a somatic specialist or a general practitioner is asked to assist in suicide consultation of two psychiatrists is required. The guidelines offer psychiatrists a framework for taking great care when their patients request assisted suicide and will certainly play a part in the legal control of assisted suicide.