The role of the nurse in active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide |
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Authors: | Martien T. Muller MA PhD Loes Pijnenborg MD PhD Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen MSc Gerrit van der Wal MD PhD Jacques Th.M. van Eijk MA PhD |
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Affiliation: | Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, and Department of General Practice and Nursing Home Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam;Department of Public Health, Erasmus University, Rotterdam;Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam;Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, and Department of General Practice and Nursing Home Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, and Inspectorate of Health Care for the Province of North Holland;Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, and Department of General Practice and Nursing Home Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
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Abstract: | The researchers wanted to obtain insight into the cooperation between physicians and nurses with regard to active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS). In study I a stratified random sample of 203 clinical specialists, 152 general practitioners (GPs) and 50 nursing home physicians (NHPs) participated. In study II a random sample of 521 GPs was drawn from the province of North Holland and a random sample of 521 GPs was drawn from the rest of the Netherlands. For study III all NHPs were approached. Data were collected by means of an interview in study I. In studies II and III an anonymous, postal questionnaire was used. Approximately half of the GPs did not consult with nurses about a patient's request for EAS, the intention to administer EAS, and the actual administration. In 5% of cases, the NHPs and the specialists did not consult with nurses concerning these aspects. The GPs and NHPs indicated in 4% and 3% of the cases, respectively, that nurses administered the lethal drug(s) to the patients; the corresponding figure for the specialists was 21%. Almost all GPs and NHPs and about three-quarters of the specialists thought that nurses should never be allowed to administer EAS. |
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Keywords: | euthanasia suicide nurse-specialist random sample |
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