19-9-2005
Reporting
Well-documented notification is essential to careful assessment. The committees first examine a doctor’s actions on the basis of his report. A detailed report stating the reasons for his conduct and the independent physician’s report make it in many cases unnecessary for the committee to request supplementary information (in writing or orally) from the doctor, the independent physician or another care provider.
There is a standard form that is used by most doctors to report termination of life on request or assisted suicide (see section 8, subsection 1 of the Act in conjunction with section 7, subsection 2 of the Burial and Cremation Act). They are not obliged to use this form. The committees will also accept a report drawn up by the attending physician himself, as long as it deals with each of the due care criteria.
The independent physician is also obliged to report his findings (under section 2, subsection 1 (e) of the Act). He must give his opinion on whether all the due care criteria were fulfilled and give reasons to support his conclusions.
