What are the criteria for assessing whether a doctor has acted with due care?
When dealing with a patients request for euthanasia, doctors must observe the following due care criteria. They must: be satisfied that the patients request is voluntary and well-considered; be satisfied that the patients suffering is unbearable and that there is no prospect of improvement; inform the patient of his or her situation and further prognosis; discuss the situation with the patient and come to the joint conclusion that there is no other reasonable solution; consult at least one other physician with no connection to the case, who must then see the patient and state in writing that the attending physician has satisfied the due care criteria listed in the four points above; exercise due medical care and attention in terminating the patients life or assisting in his/her suicide.
