Patients’ views about physician participation in assisted suicide and euthanasia |
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Authors: | Dr Mark A Graber MD Barcey I Levy PhD MD Robert F Weir PhD Robert A Oppliger PhD |
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Institution: | (1) the Department of Family Practice, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City;(2) the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City;(3) the Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City;(4) the Program in Biomedical Ethics, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City;(5) Department of Family Practice, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Steindler Building, 52242 Iowa City, IA |
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Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of physician participation in physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia on the physician-patient
relationship.
DESIGN: A questionnaire administered to 228 adult patients.
SETTING: A university-based family practice training program.
PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: We approached 230 individuals of at least 18 years of age who were patients in the study practice. These individuals were
selected on the basis of age and gender to ensure a heterogeneous study population. Of these, 228 agreed to participate and
completed the questionnaire.
RESULTS: The majority of subjects felt that a physician who assists with suicide or performs euthanasia is capable of being a caring
person (91% and 88%, respectively) and would still be able to offer emotional support to surviving family members (85% and
76%, respectively). Most also felt that a physician assisting in suicide or euthanasia would be as trustworthy as a nonparticipating
physician to care for critically ill patients (90.5% and 84.6%, respectively). Five percent “likely would not” continue to
see their physician if it was known that he or she assisted in suicide and 7.8% “likely would not” continue seeing their physician
if it was known that this physician performed euthanasia. No individuals stated that they “definitely would not” continue
seeing their doctor under either circumstance. Individuals who supported the ideas of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia
were more likely to think that a physician who assisted with suicide and euthanasia could perform well in the tasks noted
above and would be more likely to continue seeing such a physician (p=.001)
CONCLUSION: Participating in physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia does not markedly adversely affect the physician-patient relationship.
This work was supported by a grant from the Department of Family Practice at the University of Iowa. |
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Keywords: | euthanasia physician-assisted suicide physician-patient relationship |
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