Title |
Age-based disparities in end-of-life decisions in Belgium: a population-based death certificate survey
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Published in |
BMC Public Health, June 2012
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DOI | 10.1186/1471-2458-12-447 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Kenneth Chambaere, Judith A C Rietjens, Tinne Smets, Johan Bilsen, Reginald Deschepper, H Roeline W Pasman, Luc Deliens |
Abstract |
A growing body of scientific research is suggesting that end-of-life care and decision making may differ between age groups and that elderly patients may be the most vulnerable to exclusion of due care at the end of life. This study investigates age-related disparities in the rate of end-of-life decisions with a possible or certain life shortening effect (ELDs) and in the preceding decision making process in Flanders, Belgium in 2007, where euthanasia was legalised in 2002. Comparing with data from an identical survey in 1998 we also study the plausibility of the 'slippery slope' hypothesis which predicts a rise in the rate of administration of life ending drugs without patient request, especially among elderly patients, in countries where euthanasia is legal. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Canada | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Japan | 1 | 1% |
Spain | 1 | 1% |
India | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 80 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 14 | 17% |
Student > Master | 12 | 14% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 13% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 8% |
Other | 5 | 6% |
Other | 14 | 17% |
Unknown | 20 | 24% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 24 | 29% |
Social Sciences | 8 | 10% |
Psychology | 8 | 10% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 8 | 10% |
Unspecified | 4 | 5% |
Other | 9 | 11% |
Unknown | 22 | 27% |