Patient was competent at time of drug administration |
|
0 |
|
Drugs used to end life |
|
Opioids only |
7 |
|
|
Opioids in combination with a benzodiazepine |
5 |
|
|
Barbiturate |
1 |
|
|
|
In case opioids were used to end life (n = 12) |
Use of opioids already administered previous to |
9 |
|
|
life-ending practice to alleviate pain or other symptoms |
|
|
|
|
Time between administration of (first) life-ending drug and coma |
Patient was already in a coma at time of administration |
6 |
|
|
Patient never lapsed into a complete coma |
1 |
|
|
(awoke now and then) |
|
|
|
15 minutes |
1 |
|
|
2 hours |
1 |
|
|
8 hours |
1 |
|
|
1 day |
1 |
|
|
2 days |
2 |
|
|
|
Time between administration of (first) life-ending drug and death |
instantly |
1 |
|
|
20 minutes |
1 |
|
|
90 minutes |
2 |
|
|
3 hours |
1 |
|
|
4 hours |
1 |
|
|
12 hours |
1 |
|
|
13 hours |
1 |
|
|
1-2 days |
3 |
|
|
2-3 days |
2 |
|
Persons involved in administration |
Person who administered the (last) life-ending drug |
GP |
7 |
|
|
Nurse |
6 |
|
|
|
GP's presence during the administration of life-ending drugs until the time of death |
Continuously |
2 |
|
|
With short interruptions |
3 |
|
|
Not present, but on call |
6 |
|
|
Not present |
2 |
|
|
|
Other persons present during the administration of life-ending drug |
Professional caregivers & patient's relatives |
2 |
|
|
Professional caregivers only |
3 |
|
|
Patient's relatives only |
7 |
|
|
No other persons present |
1 |
|
GP's estimation of life-shortening effect of administration of life-ending drugs |
< 1 day |
2 |
|
|
1-7 days |
8 |
|
|
1-4 weeks |
2 |
|
|
> 6 months |
1 |