Symptoombestrijding en palliatie versus levensbeëindiging: een terugblik op de zaak-Vencken

- In 2003, Peter Vencken who was working as a junior physician in a hospital, was accused of having ended the life of a terminally ill man unjustly. He claimed that his treatment had been normal medical practice for the relief of symptoms and for palliation. The Public Prosecutor and the Medical Inspectorate filed complaints against Vencken and he was taken into custody for 9 days. However, both the Criminal Court and the Medical Disciplinary Board rejected the complaints made against Vencken on ending the patient’s life and judged that he had acted according to professional standards. The Vencken case lasted for three years and was finalised in April 2006. It raises questions about the role and policy of the Public Prosecutor, the Medical Inspectorate as well as the hospital.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2006;150:1689-92