Physician-Assisted Death and Pharmacy Practice in the Netherlands

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Abstract
Although the opinions of pharmacists on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have been examined,1 there is little information about their practices. Between April and September 1994, we surveyed attitudes and practices with respect to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in community and hospital pharmacies in the Netherlands. Under Dutch legislation euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are technically crimes, but through an amendment to the Burial Act physicians are granted immunity from prosecution if they adhere to certain conditions.2 The Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Association has issued guidelines for pharmacists who receive requests to dispense drugs for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. The guidelines, however, have no legal status.