Page 34 - JCBP-2-3

Journal of Clinical and

Basic Psychosomatics

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
Categorization challenges in research on organ

donation after euthanasia: Determining somatic
or psychiatric origins of suffering

Nathalie van Dijk * , Judith Godschalx 2 , Wim de Jongh 3 , Jan Bollen 4 , and
1
Walther van Mook 1,5,6
1 Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht,
Limburg, Netherlands
2 Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Flevoziekenhuis, GGZ Centraal, Almere, Flevoland,
Netherlands
3 Department of Surgery, Transplantation Coordination Services, Maastricht University Medical
Center+, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
4 Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center, Nijmegen,
Gelderland, Netherlands
5 Academy for Postgraduate Training, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, Limburg,
Netherlands
6 School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

Abstract

*Corresponding author: This perspective article discusses the classification challenges encountered in organ
Nathalie van Dijk donation after euthanasia (ODE) among individuals with psychiatric disorders, as
(n.van.dijk@mumc.nl)
highlighted in our recent case series. In cases involving “somatic symptoms and
Citation: van Dijk N, Godschalx J, related disorders,” somatic symptoms are connected to excessive thoughts, feelings,
de Jongh W, Bollen J, van Mook W. and behaviors, causing distress or dysfunction. Conditions such as tinnitus and
Categorization challenges in
research on organ donation chronic pain often co-occur with psychiatric disorders. The recent Dutch guideline
after euthanasia: Determining on ODE eliminated the requirement to distinguish between somatic and psychiatric
somatic or psychiatric origins of causes of suffering. This updated guideline encourages a holistic approach to patient
suffering. J Clin Basic Psychosom.
2024;2(3):3182. care, emphasizing the importance of addressing patients’ overall suffering rather than
doi: 10.36922/jcbp.3182 specific categorizations. To avoid errors in classification, categorization in research
Received: March 15, 2024 on ODE should recognize the overlap between somatic and psychiatric diagnoses,
thereby eliminating the risk of misclassification, avoiding the stigmatization of
Accepted: June 28, 2024
patients, and optimizing future treatment options.
Published Online: July 22, 2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Keywords: Euthanasia; Organ donation; Psychiatric disorder; Suffering; Organ donation
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the euthanasia; Classification; Pain syndrome; Tinnitus
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience Physician-assisted dying, legally permitted in countries such as Belgium, the
Publishing remains neutral with Netherlands, Luxembourg, Colombia, Canada, Australia, Spain, and New Zealand,
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional allows patients to choose a peaceful death. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and
affiliations. Spain, patients can also donate their organs following euthanasia (ODE), particularly

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.3182