What medical conditions lead to a request for euthanasia? A rapid scoping review

Abstract

Background and Aims

Euthanasia is a controversial issue related to the right to die. Although euthanasia is mostly requested by terminally sick individuals, even in societies where it is legal, it is unclear what medical conditions lead to euthanasia requests. In this scoping review, we aimed to compile medical conditions for which euthanasia has been requested or performed around the world.

Methods

The review was preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analysis for scoping reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) checklist. Retrieved search results were screened and unrelated documents were excluded. Data on reasons for conducting or requesting euthanasia along with the study type, setting, and publication year were extracted from documents. Human development index and euthanasia legality were also extracted. Major medical fields were used to categorize reported reasons. Group discussions were conducted if needed for this categorization. An electronic search was undertaken in MEDLINE through PubMed for published documents covering the years January 2000 to September 2022.

Results

Out of 3323 records, a total of 197 papers were included. The most common medical conditions in euthanasia requests are cancer in a terminal phase (45.4%), Alzheimer's disease and dementia (19.8%), constant unbearable physical or mental suffering (19.8%), treatment‐resistant mood disorders (12.2%), and advanced cardiovascular disorders (12.2%).

Conclusion

Reasons for euthanasia are mostly linked to chronic or terminal physical conditions. Psychiatric disorders also lead to a substantial proportion of euthanasia requests. This review can help to identify the features shared by conditions that lead to performing or requesting euthanasia

Abstract

What is already known about the topic?

• Euthanasia is a challenging issue that has sparked numerous controversies around the world over the past decades.

• There is no consensus about the criteria or guidelines that have been set for identifying a patient eligible for euthanasia in different countries.

What this paper adds?

• To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review to systematically list and categorize published records of euthanasia requests around the world into five broad groups.

• We provide a picture of all euthanasia requests' frequencies in each broad group.

• This study facilitates informing scientists and researchers about the trends of euthanasia requests during different years and in different countries around the world.

How this study might affect research, practice, or policy?

• This review can provide information to help clinicians and health policymakers to reach a more precise decision about the acceptance or the rejection of requests made by patients.

• This review informs readers about all medical conditions that increase the likelihood of requesting euthanasia. Researchers should consider these conditions and conduct further research on each condition in detail.