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Neonatal euthanasia: attributions of students and nurses
D B Sugarman1, R K Montvilo, C J Matarese
1Department of Psychology, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA. dsugarman@grog.ric.edu
The Journal of Social Issues
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Physicians received less blame for neonatal deaths when interventions failed. However, ending life support, including nutrition and hydration, led to greater physician responsibility attributions among students and nurses.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Neonatal Care
- Psychology
Background:
- Neonatal end-of-life decisions involve complex ethical considerations.
- Understanding attributions of responsibility in neonatal euthanasia is crucial for healthcare professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare responsibility attributions toward physicians for neonatal deaths.
- To examine how nursing and non-nursing students, and nurses, perceive physician actions in critical neonatal cases.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted using vignettes depicting a critically ill neonate's death.
- Participants (nursing/non-nursing students and nurses) rated physician responsibility based on different treatment scenarios.
Main Results:
- Students attributed least responsibility when cardiopulmonary resuscitation failed, but most when nutrition/hydration support was terminated.
- Nursing major and educational cohort influenced student attributions.
- Nurses differentiated termination of life support from other physician actions.
Conclusions:
- Physician responsibility attributions for neonatal deaths vary significantly based on specific actions and the observer's background.
- Ending nutritional and hydration support is perceived differently than other end-of-life interventions by healthcare professionals.