Legal and ethical aspects of organ donation after euthanasia in Belgium and the Netherlands

Jan Bollen*, Margaretha ten Hoopen, Dirk Ysebaert, Walther van Mook, Ernest van Heurn

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Organ donation after euthanasia has been performed more than 40 times in Belgium and the Netherlands together. Preliminary results of procedures that have been performed until now demonstrate that this leads to good medical results in the recipient of the organs. Several legal aspects could be changed to further facilitate the combination of organ donation and euthanasia. On the ethical side, several controversies remain, giving rise to an ongoing, but necessary and useful debate. Further experiences will clarify whether both procedures should be strictly separated and whether the dead donor rule should be strictly applied. Opinions still differ on whether the patient's physician should address the possibility of organ donation after euthanasia, which laws should be adapted and which preparatory acts should be performed. These and other procedural issues potentially conflict with the patient's request for organ donation or the circumstances in which euthanasia (without subsequent organ donation) traditionally occurs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)486-489
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Medical Ethics
Volume42
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2016

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