DYING IN DIGNITY - THE PROS AND CONS OF ASSISTED SUICIDE

This paper describes the historical background and the current situati on regarding the practice of assisted suicide in The Netherlands. It o utlines and discusses what is considered to be the 'golden standard' o f conduct for doctors and other health professionals in this area, it describes experiences with the application of this standard and discus ses some of the major pitfalls involved. It also describes the results of several empirical studies on the attitudes of the general public, and the nature and magnitude of the practice of assisted suicide in th e country. It is concluded that although perfect application of the 'D utch Protocol' encourages and supports careful and responsible profess ional conduct regarding assisted suicide and provides satisfactory saf eguards both for the patients involved, (potential) survivors and soci ety as a whole, there are many cases where the desired perfection is f ar from feasible, hence assistance with suicide remains very hazardous . It is also concluded, however, that health care policy makers, as we ll as professionals, should confront the issue of assisted suicide, si nce, as the historical development in The Netherlands has shown, repre ssion and denial implicates the worst of all possible scenarios, and d oes not contribute at all to the primordial goals of a humane health c are system: the alleviation of suffering and the prevention of prematu re death.