CASES OF EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE AMONG AIDS PATIENTS REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR IN NORTH HOLLAND

Background: Euthanasia is performed relatively frequently among AIDS p atients.Objective: To examine the relationship between euthanasia and physician assisted suicide (EAS) and AIDS. Methods: A descriptive retr ospective study in which data was collected from all cases of EAS whic h were reported to the Public Prosecutor in North Holland between 1984 and 1993. Results: In 7% of the reported cases of EAS the patient had AIDS, and in most of these cases the physician involved was a general practitioner. Both the percentage of AIDS patients among the cases of EAS and the percentage of EAS among all deaths due to AIDS increased over the years. In 1992, 23% of all deaths due to AIDS were reported a s cases of EAS. Conclusions. It seems, in recent years, that EAS has b een performed on at least one out of three AIDS patients, which is a f ar greater percentage than found among other patients.