The role of undiagnosed psychiatric disorders in patients requesting euthan
asia is an important ethical and professional issue. From June, 1997, until
June, 1999, we included a psychiatric consultation as part of our standard
procedure for handling euthanasia requests. Of 22 cancer patients who requ
ested euthanasia at short notice: ten had their longstanding and well-consi
dered wish for euthanasia granted; six were denied euthanasia because they
did not have such a wish; five were denied because of psychiatric problems;
and one was granted the wish despite minor psychiatric symptoms. Our findi
ngs suggest that a psychiatrist should be consulted if the treatment team h
as doubts about a patient's state of mind.