Greening medical practice: quantifying, incorporating, and improving environmental sustainability in clinical care

Author(s):
Bree, E.M. van
Published
2026
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Academic dissertation regarding environmental sustainability in clinical care. Quantifying the environmental impact of healthcare activities, incorporating this information in medical decision-making by healthcare professionals and patients, and applying the gained insights to make clinical practice environmentally friendlier are discussed. The dissertation offers practical insights for sustainable healthcare in the operating room, intensive care unit, and outpatient clinic; and highlights underlying questions regarding dominant values, methods, and epistemology in evidence-based medicine which need to be addressed.

Sustainable healthcareEnvironmental sustainabilityMedical decision-makingPlanetary health
Defense date
2026-10-16
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Bouvy, N.D.
Advisor(s)
Brakema, E.A.; Sperna Weiland, N.H.
Committee member(s)
Jansen, F.W.; Vries, M.C. de; Eijk, A.C. van der; Hermanides, J.; Vlaar, A.J.P.
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
Is part of
ISBN source
9789083727738
Advanced publication
Yes
hdl
1887/5004241
ISBN(s)
9789083727738

Funding

Sponsorship
The research in this dissertation was funded by ZonMw (Chapter 2), Zorginstituut Nederland (Chapter 3), Leiden University (Chapter 5), the Dutch Society for Anaesthesiology (Chapter 7), and NWO (Chapters 6 and 8).