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Abstract

A prospective survey of five palliative care units in the Rhône-Alpes region of France over a six-month period identified 13 requests for euthanasia (from the patient, family or both). The frequency of the request was low at 2.1% (of 611 patients). We have sought to establish the reasons for this request from the patient or family and the follow up of this request over time.

Keywords

euthanasia family exhaustion palliative care unit patient suffering

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The demand for euthanasia in palliative care units: a prospective study in seven units of the ‘Rhône-Alpes’ region

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