Objective: To demonstrate Japanese doctors' and nurses' attitudes towards and practices of voluntary euthanasia (VE) and to compare their attitudes and practices in this regard.

Design: Postal survey, conducted between October and December 1999, using a self-administered questionnaire. PARTCIPANTS: All doctor members and nurse members of the Japanese Association of Palliative Medicine.

Main Outcome Measure: Doctors' and nurses' attitude towards and practices of VE.

Results: We received 366 completed questionnaires from 642 doctors surveyed (response rate, 58%) and 145 from 217 nurses surveyed (68%). A total of 54% (95% confidence interval (CI): 49-59) of the responding doctors and 53% (CI: 45-61) of the responding nurses had been asked by patients to hasten death, of whom 5% (CI: 2-8) of the former and none of the latter had taken active steps to bring about death. Although 88% (CI: 83-92) of the doctors and 85% (CI: 77-93) of the nurses answered that a patient's request to hasten death can sometimes be rational, only 33% (CI: 28-38) and 23% (CI: 16-30) respectively regarded VE as ethically right and 22% (CI: 18-36) and 15% (CI: 8-20) respectively would practise VE if it were legal. Logistic regression model analysis showed that the respondents' profession was not a statistically independent factor predicting his or her response to any question regarding attitudes towards VE.

Conclusions: A minority of responding doctors and nurses thought VE was ethically or legally acceptable. There seems no significant difference in attitudes towards VE between the doctors and nurses. However, only doctors had practised VE.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1733435PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jme.27.5.324DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

doctors' nurses'
12
nurses' attitudes
8
voluntary euthanasia
8
members japanese
8
japanese association
8
association palliative
8
attitudes practices
8
responding doctors
8
hasten death
8
doctors nurses
8

Similar Publications

Background: Studies across the extant literature suggest that less-experienced healthcare workers are more likely to experience adverse outcomes such as burnout, sick leaves, or intend to leave the profession. Thus, one's readiness to practice is an important element that requires more attention. While extensive research exists on the readiness of certain professions like nurses, a notable gap remains concerning other healthcare workers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The harm-benefit balance for early out-of-bed mobilisation of patients with severe acquired brain injury (ABI) in neurointensive care units (neuro-ICUs) is unclear, and there are no clinical guidelines. This study aimed to survey the current clinical practice and perceptions among clinicians involved in first out-of-bed mobilisation in Scandinavian neuro-ICUs.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey; the reporting follows the recommended CROSS checklist.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DDs) encounter barriers to vaccine access, uptake, and confidence, leading to health inequities. These include barriers related to healthcare provider capacity to effectively address the social determinants of health, provide accessible needle procedures, and translate and disseminate inclusive public health information. The current study aimed to test the preliminary effectiveness of a virtual continuing medical education (CME) course on enhancing healthcare provider capacity to address these barriers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and mammogram screening can reduce breast cancer mortality. Healthcare providers' perspectives can have an impact on encouraging females to attend mammogram screening.

Objective: To understand healthcare providers' (HCPs) perspectives in initiating discussion on mammogram screening, and their perceived barriers and enablers to screening in women.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Black/African American women are the most at-risk demographic group for developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Unfortunately, Black Americans are underrepresented in research, accounting for just 8% of clinical trial participants in the USA. Restrictive study exclusion criteria and medical mistrust are pervasive barriers to research participation in minoritized communities and are often disregarded during the development of a research study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!