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News media coverage of euthanasia: a content analysis of Dutch national newspapers
Authors
Judith AC Rietjens, assistant professora
Natasja JH Raijmakers, junior researchera
Pauline SC Kouwenhoven, junior researcher, general practitionerb
Clive Seale, professor of medical sociologyc
Ghilaine JMW van Thiel, assistant professorb
Margo Trappenburg, associate professord
Johannes JM van Delden, professor of medical ethicsb
Agnes van der Heide, associate professora
Addresses
a. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
(j.rietjens@erasmusmc.nl; n.raijmakers@erasmusmc.nl; a.vanderheide@erasmusmc.nl)
b. Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands Huispost Str 6.131, postbus
85500 3508 GA Utrecht, the NL (P.S.C.Kouwenhoven@umcutrecht.nl,
G.J.M.W.vanThiel@umcutrecht.nl, J.J.M.vanDelden@umcutrecht.nl)
c. Department of Sociology and Communications, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH
(clive.seale@brunel.ac.uk)
d. Utrecht School of Governance, University of Utrecht, Bijlhouwerstraat 6, 3511 ZC Utrecht, the
Netherlands (M.J.Trappenburg@uu.nl)
Corresponding author
Judith Rietjens
Department of Public Health,
Erasmus MC,
PO Box 2040,
3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
j.rietjens@erasmusmc.nl
tel: 0031 10 7043056 / fax: 0021 10 7038474
Abstract
Background: The Netherlands is one of the few countries where euthanasia is legal under strict conditions. Aim: To investigate whether Dutch newspaper articles use the term ‘euthanasia’ according to the legal definition and to determine what arguments for and against euthanasia they contain.
Design: We did an electronic search of seven Dutch national newspapers between January 2009 and
May 2010 and conducted a content analysis.
Results: Of the 284 articles containing the term ‘euthanasia’, 24% referred to practices outside the scope of the law, mostly relating to the forgoing of life-prolonging
Authors
Judith AC Rietjens, assistant professora
Natasja JH Raijmakers, junior researchera
Pauline SC Kouwenhoven, junior researcher, general practitionerb
Clive Seale, professor of medical sociologyc
Ghilaine JMW van Thiel, assistant professorb
Margo Trappenburg, associate professord
Johannes JM van Delden, professor of medical ethicsb
Agnes van der Heide, associate professora
Addresses
a. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
(j.rietjens@erasmusmc.nl; n.raijmakers@erasmusmc.nl; a.vanderheide@erasmusmc.nl)
b. Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands Huispost Str 6.131, postbus
85500 3508 GA Utrecht, the NL (P.S.C.Kouwenhoven@umcutrecht.nl,
G.J.M.W.vanThiel@umcutrecht.nl, J.J.M.vanDelden@umcutrecht.nl)
c. Department of Sociology and Communications, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH
(clive.seale@brunel.ac.uk)
d. Utrecht School of Governance, University of Utrecht, Bijlhouwerstraat 6, 3511 ZC Utrecht, the
Netherlands (M.J.Trappenburg@uu.nl)
Corresponding author
Judith Rietjens
Department of Public Health,
Erasmus MC,
PO Box 2040,
3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
j.rietjens@erasmusmc.nl
tel: 0031 10 7043056 / fax: 0021 10 7038474
Abstract
Background: The Netherlands is one of the few countries where euthanasia is legal under strict conditions. Aim: To investigate whether Dutch newspaper articles use the term ‘euthanasia’ according to the legal definition and to determine what arguments for and against euthanasia they contain.
Design: We did an electronic search of seven Dutch national newspapers between January 2009 and
May 2010 and conducted a content analysis.
Results: Of the 284 articles containing the term ‘euthanasia’, 24% referred to practices outside the scope of the law, mostly relating to the forgoing of life-prolonging
References: van der Maas PJ, Pijnenborg L, van Delden JJ: Changes in Dutch opinions on active euthanasia, 1966 through 1991