Do doctors in the Netherlands always comply with requests for euthanasia?
No. Two thirds of the requests for euthanasia that are put to doctors are refused. Treatment frequently provides relief, while some patients enter the terminal stage of their illness before a decision has been reached. Doctors are not obliged to comply with requests for euthanasia. Experience shows that many patients find sufficient peace of mind in the knowledge that the doctor is prepared to perform euthanasia and that they ultimately die a natural death.