A Focus on Killing the Pain, Not the Patient
Yara Langeveld (2760223)
Workgroup 3/subgroup 10 - Health, Globalisation and Human Rights - MPA
20/12/2023
938 words (without title and in-text references)
Due to an ageing population, Dutch healthcare services are under a high pressure, resulting in a
decline in the quality of palliative care and a lack of institutional and workforce capacity for
euthanasia (Cristea et al., 2020). Palliative care addresses patient’s physical, social and spiritual
needs through various services, but currently has a limited reach due to a lack of training and
skills of professionals, public awareness and availability of resources (Hawley, 2017). Additionally,
euthanasia, which stands for assisted death performed by a physician through administering
lethal substances, was granted to only 29% of all requests in 2019 (Expertisecentrum Euthanasie,
2020; Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, 2022). As the share of the population aged 65 and over is
expected to rise to 29% in 2070, the pressure on healthcare, and the accompanying decline in
the quality and availability of palliative care and euthanasia, is expected to intensify even further
(Cristea et al., 2020; Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, 2020). Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of
Health is advised to shift their focus to mainly investing in palliative care, which ensures respect
for life and dignity of patients, their right to health and healthcare, and equal, accessible care.
This way, the ministry will invest in killing the pain instead of the patient.
The advice for the ministry to focus investments on palliative care is based on several arguments.
At first, this ensures respect for life and dignity, as palliative care aims to improve the quality of
life of patients with serious, progressive and far-advanced illnesses, such as cancer, dementia
and heart failure, by relieving them of suffering (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012; NIA, 2021). By
providing diverse services, among which treatment of symptoms such as pain, emotional support
and care planning, by multiple professionals, the value of human life and living in dignity until the
natural end are respected (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012; NIA, 2021). Secondly, focusing on improving
palliative care honours the right to health and healthcare, as included in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), because it enables comprehensive care and support for
patients by addressing their emotional, physical and spiritual needs and involving their family
(Hawley, 2017; UN, n.d.). For instance, a patient suffering from cancer can simultaneously receive
medication to relieve symptoms and pain, physical therapy to deal with the emotional
consequences of their illness and the end of life, and group counseling and relaxation techniques
with family members, in addition to other treatments he or she receives (Cancer.Net, 2023). As a
result, the quality of life can be enhanced and the focus will lie on care instead of ending life as a
rapid cure to suffering (Hawley, 2017). Thirdly, besides an improvement in the quality,
governmental investments will also increase the availability of palliative care, which ensures
equal, accessible care for everyone, thereby addressing the fundamental principle of equality of
the UDHR (UN, n.d.). Currently, there are still many inefficiencies, such as delays in organising
palliative care at home and difficulties in the reimbursement of intensive palliative care, which
restrict its availability, affordability and accessibility and require attention (Algemene
Rekenkamer, 2021).
Although palliative care can enhance the quality of life of a large group of patients, there are also
cases in which the suffering is unbearable and irreversible, and physicians are unable to take
Yara Langeveld (2760223)
Workgroup 3/subgroup 10 - Health, Globalisation and Human Rights - MPA
20/12/2023
938 words (without title and in-text references)
Due to an ageing population, Dutch healthcare services are under a high pressure, resulting in a
decline in the quality of palliative care and a lack of institutional and workforce capacity for
euthanasia (Cristea et al., 2020). Palliative care addresses patient’s physical, social and spiritual
needs through various services, but currently has a limited reach due to a lack of training and
skills of professionals, public awareness and availability of resources (Hawley, 2017). Additionally,
euthanasia, which stands for assisted death performed by a physician through administering
lethal substances, was granted to only 29% of all requests in 2019 (Expertisecentrum Euthanasie,
2020; Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, 2022). As the share of the population aged 65 and over is
expected to rise to 29% in 2070, the pressure on healthcare, and the accompanying decline in
the quality and availability of palliative care and euthanasia, is expected to intensify even further
(Cristea et al., 2020; Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, 2020). Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of
Health is advised to shift their focus to mainly investing in palliative care, which ensures respect
for life and dignity of patients, their right to health and healthcare, and equal, accessible care.
This way, the ministry will invest in killing the pain instead of the patient.
The advice for the ministry to focus investments on palliative care is based on several arguments.
At first, this ensures respect for life and dignity, as palliative care aims to improve the quality of
life of patients with serious, progressive and far-advanced illnesses, such as cancer, dementia
and heart failure, by relieving them of suffering (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012; NIA, 2021). By
providing diverse services, among which treatment of symptoms such as pain, emotional support
and care planning, by multiple professionals, the value of human life and living in dignity until the
natural end are respected (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012; NIA, 2021). Secondly, focusing on improving
palliative care honours the right to health and healthcare, as included in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), because it enables comprehensive care and support for
patients by addressing their emotional, physical and spiritual needs and involving their family
(Hawley, 2017; UN, n.d.). For instance, a patient suffering from cancer can simultaneously receive
medication to relieve symptoms and pain, physical therapy to deal with the emotional
consequences of their illness and the end of life, and group counseling and relaxation techniques
with family members, in addition to other treatments he or she receives (Cancer.Net, 2023). As a
result, the quality of life can be enhanced and the focus will lie on care instead of ending life as a
rapid cure to suffering (Hawley, 2017). Thirdly, besides an improvement in the quality,
governmental investments will also increase the availability of palliative care, which ensures
equal, accessible care for everyone, thereby addressing the fundamental principle of equality of
the UDHR (UN, n.d.). Currently, there are still many inefficiencies, such as delays in organising
palliative care at home and difficulties in the reimbursement of intensive palliative care, which
restrict its availability, affordability and accessibility and require attention (Algemene
Rekenkamer, 2021).
Although palliative care can enhance the quality of life of a large group of patients, there are also
cases in which the suffering is unbearable and irreversible, and physicians are unable to take
