How does regulation influence euthanasia practice in Belgium? A qualitative exploration of involved doctors' and nurses' perspectives.

Abstract

Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002. Despite extensive research exploring Belgian euthanasia practice, investigations into its governing regulatory framework are limited. Existing studies that consider regulation take a 'siloed' approach, generally considering sources of regulation individually, including euthanasia legislation and euthanasia policies. This study obtains insights from providing health professionals on how the Belgian euthanasia regulatory landscape influences their euthanasia practice. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews from September 2022 to March 2024 with eligible physicians and nurses and analysed them using a reflexive approach to thematic analysis. We generated three overarching themes describing the influence of regulation on euthanasia practice: the Act is a valuable, boundary-setting instrument; but the Act is limited, leaving space for gap filling and other forms of regulation; and relying on professional judgment can make practitioners feel vulnerable. Key findings include that practitioners respond to the Act's non-prescriptiveness and regulatory lacunae by relying on their professional judgment, and that the efficacy of the retrospective euthanasia oversight model depends on physicians' good faith participation. Policymakers in Belgium and internationally are encouraged to reflect on the implications of Belgium's euthanasia regulatory model for the consistency, quality, and control of euthanasia practice.