End-of-life decisions: Medical end-of-life decisions - attitudes and practices in 6 European countries

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0889

Key words (English)

Medical-end-of-life decisions; Biotechnology; Legislation; Regulations; Life Sciences

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLG6-2000-00859

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.8 Generic R&D activities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Zürich
Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Erasmus University, Rotterdam (NL)

Abstract (English)

Advances in medical technology and the emphasis in modern society on patient autonomy have, among other factors, increased the scientific and societal debate on the role of medicine at the end of life. In this project, the incidence, characteristics and attitudes concerning end-of-life decision-making will be assessed in 6 European countries in two surveys. The first involves the medical decision-making that preceded a random sample of death cases; the second involves experiences and attitudes of a random sample of general practitioners and other physicians frequently confronted with death. The data will be analysed in the light of differences in the health care systems and in cultural, socio-economic and other characteristics. The results of this project will help physicians, citizens and public health policy makers in Europe in developing rational, evidence-based policies.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0889