Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in cases of terminal cancer: the opinions of physicians and nurses in Greece.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of physicians and nurses on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in advanced cancer patients in Greece. Two hundred and fifteen physicians and 250 nurses from various hospitals in Greece completed a questionnaire concerning issues on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. More physicians (43.3%) than nurses (3.2%, p < 0.0005) reported that in the case of a cardiac or respiratory arrest, they would not attempt to revive a terminally ill cancer patient. Only 1.9% of physicians and 3.6% of nurses agreed on physician-assisted suicide. Forty-seven per cent of physicians and 45.2% of nurses would prefer the legalization of a terminally ill patient's hastened death; in the case of such a request, 64.2% of physicians and 55.2% of nurses (p = 0.06) would consider it if it was legal. The majority of the participants tended to disagree with euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in terminally ill cancer patients, probably due to the fact that these acts in Greece are illegal.

• Authors: Efi Parpa, Kyriaki Mystakidou, Eleni Tsilika, Pavlos Sakkas, Elisabeth Patiraki, Kyriaki Pistevou-Gombaki, Ourania Govina, Lambros Vlahos
• Journal: Medicine, science, and the law (Med Sci Law) Vol. 48 Issue 4 Pg. 333-41 (Oct 2008) ISSN: 0025-8024 [Print] England
• PMID: 19051672 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Attitude of Health Personnel
• Euthanasia
• Female
• Greece
• Humans
• Male
• Neoplasms
• Suicide, Assisted
• Terminally Ill