کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
2650397 | 1139380 | 2015 | 4 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
ObjectivesTo investigate the attitudes of Greek intensive care unit (ICU) medical and nursing staff towards euthanasia.BackgroundICU physicians and nurses deal with end-of-life dilemmas on a daily basis. Therefore, the exploration of their stances on euthanasia is worthwhile.MethodsThis was a descriptive quantitative study conducted in three ICUs in Athens. The convenience sample included 39 physicians and 107 nurses.ResultsOf respondents, 52% defined euthanasia inaccurately, as withholding or withdrawal of treatment, while 15% ranked limitation of life-support among the several forms of euthanasia, together with active shortening of the dying process and physician – assisted suicide. Only one third of participants defined euthanasia correctly. While 59% of doctors and 64% of nurses support the legalization of active euthanasia, just 28% and 26% of them, respectively, agree with it ethically.ConclusionsConfusion prevails among Greek ICU physicians and nurses regarding the definition of euthanasia. The majority of staff disagrees with active euthanasia, but upholds its legalization.
Journal: Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care - Volume 44, Issue 3, May–June 2015, Pages 260–263