Hospital social workers' attitudes toward euthanasia and assisted suicide

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are the subjects of increasing controversy in the health care setting. In this study of 122 hospital social workers' attitudes toward euthanasia and assisted suicide, many respondents reported agreement that both practices may be ethical, should be legal in some situations, and that they would be willing to participate in the practices. Almost one-fourth of the respondents have been asked by patients and families during their careers to discuss euthanasia and assisted suicide. The social workers also identified situations in which euthanasia and assisted suicide may be appropriate and safeguards that should apply if practices are legalized. Preparation for requests to discuss these practices, through awareness of their own beliefs and attitudes and becoming knowledgeable about current controversies, policies, and practices, is essential. By doing so, social workers will be ready to seize the opportunity to emerge as leaders of multidisciplinary discussion of complex ethical issues in health care.