BACKGROUND Physicians who receive a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide may experience a conflict of duties: the duty to preserve life on the one hand and the duty to relieve suffering on the other hand. Little is known about experiences of physicians with receiving and granting a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the concerns, feelings and pressure experienced by physicians who receive requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide. METHODS In 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 3000 Dutch physicians. Physicians who had been working in adult patient care in the Netherlands for the last year were included in the sample (n = 2657). Half of the physicians were asked about the most recent case in which they refused a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide, and half about the most recent case in which they granted a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide. RESULTS Of the 2657 eligible physicians, 1374 (52%) responded. The most reported reason not to participate was lack of time. Of the respondents, 248 answered questions about a refused euthanasia or assisted suicide request and 245 about a granted EAS request. Concerns about specific aspects of the euthanasia and assisted suicide process, such as the emotional burden of preparing and performing euthanasia or assisted suicide were commonly reported by physicians who refused and who granted a request. Pressure to grant a request was mostly experienced by physicians who refused a request, especially if the patient was ≥80 years, had a life-expectancy of ≥6 months and did not have cancer. The large majority of physicians reported contradictory emotions after having performed euthanasia or assisted suicide. CONCLUSIONS Society should be aware of the impact of euthanasia and assisted suicide requests on physicians. The tension physicians experience may decrease their willingness to perform euthanasia and assisted suicide. On the other hand, physicians should not be forced to cross their own moral boundaries or be tempted to perform euthanasia and assisted suicide in cases that may not meet the due care criteria.

中文翻译：

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医生的安乐死经历：在荷兰医生的随机样本中进行的横断面调查，以探讨他们的担忧，感受和压力。

背景技术接受安乐死或协助自杀的要求的医师可能会遇到职责冲突：一方面是挽救生命的义务，另一方面是减轻痛苦的义务。对于医生在接受和批准安乐死或辅助自杀的经历方面知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在探讨接受安乐死或辅助自杀的医生所关注的问题，感觉和压力。方法2016年进行了横断面研究。将问卷调查表发送给3000名荷兰医生的随机样本。样本中包括去年在荷兰从事成人患者护理工作的内科医师（n = 2657）。一半的医生被问到他们拒绝安乐死或协助自杀的最新情况，一半被问到了他们同意安乐死或协助自杀的最新情况。结果在2657名合格医师中，有1374名（52％）做出了回应。据报，不参加的原因是时间不足。在受访者中，有248人回答了有关安乐死或协助自杀请求被拒绝的问题，有245人回答了有关批准的EAS请求的问题。对安乐死和辅助自杀过程的特定方面的担忧，例如拒绝和批准请求的医生通常报告说，他们准备和进行安乐死或辅助自杀的情感负担。拒绝请求的医生大多经历了拒绝请求的压力，尤其是如果患者≥80岁，预期寿命≥6个月且没有癌症。大多数医生在执行安乐死或辅助自杀后报告了矛盾的情绪。结论社会应了解安乐死和协助自杀的请求对医生的影响。紧张的医生经历可能会降低他们执行安乐死和辅助自杀的意愿。另一方面，在未达到适当护理标准的情况下，不应强迫医师跨越自己的道德界限或被诱使实施安乐死和协助自杀。结论社会应了解安乐死和协助自杀的请求对医生的影响。紧张的医生经历可能会降低他们执行安乐死和辅助自杀的意愿。另一方面，在未达到适当护理标准的情况下，不应强迫医师跨越自己的道德界限或被诱使实施安乐死和协助自杀。结论社会应意识到安乐死和自杀协助请求对医生的影响。紧张的医生经历可能会降低他们执行安乐死和辅助自杀的意愿。另一方面，在未达到适当护理标准的情况下，不应强迫医师跨越自己的道德界限或被诱使实施安乐死和协助自杀。