Paul J. van der Maas

TL;DR: Investigation in six European countries found medical end-of-life decisions frequently precede dying in all participating countries, with large variations in the extent to which decisions were discussed with patients, relatives, and other caregivers.

TL;DR: The Dutch Euthanasia Act was followed by a modest decrease in the rates of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, which may have resulted from the increased application of other end-of-life care interventions, such as palliative sedation.

TL;DR: The main determinants of healthcare use in the Netherlands are old age and disabling conditions, particularly mental disability, and this cost will inevitably increase further in an ageing population.

TL;DR: Since 1995, the demand for physician-assisted death has not risen among patients and physicians, who seem to have become somewhat more reluctant in their attitude towards this practice.

TL;DR: Prostatectomy and radiotherapy differed in the type of HRQOL impairment, and patients should be made fully aware of the potential benefits and adverse consequences of therapies for early prostate cancer.