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Published on: July 5, 2017
Questionnaire-based survey suggests that the majority of Danish geriatricians are against euthanasia
Johan Ilvemark1, Bård Dahle, Lars-Erik Matzen
1lars.matzen@rsyd.dk.
Introduction:
Euthanasia (EU) and/or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is legal in some countries and being considered in others. Attitudes to EU/PAS among Danish geriatricians were studied.
Methods:
An online questionnaire with 12 questions was e-mailed to all members of the Danish Geriatric Society.
Results:
The response rate was 46% (120/261). A total of 55.8% (67/120) disagreed that EU is ethically justifiable, whereas 22.5% (27/120) found that EU is justifiable. Furthermore, 13.3% (16/120) agreed that EU should be offered as an alternative to palliative treatment, 73.4% (88/120) disagreed. A total of 64.2% (67/120) disagreed that PAS is ethically justifiable, whereas 19.2% (23/120) found that PAS is justifiable. In all, 15% (18/120) agreed that PAS should be offered as an alternative to palliative treatment, whereas 76.6% (92/120) disagreed. The impact of legalisation of EU/PAS on the relationship between physician and patient was believed to be negative by 62.2% (74/119), positive by 12.6% (15/119) and without implications by 25.2% (30/119). Younger physicians tended to be more positive towards EU/PAS.
Conclusions:
The majority of Danish geriatricians are opposed to EU and PAS.
Funding:
none.
Trial Registration:
none.
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