Clive Seale1. 1. School of Social Science and Law, Brunel University, Middlesex, UK. clive.seale@brunel.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To assess the extent to which UK doctors discuss end-of-life decisions (ELDs) with patients, relatives and colleagues, and to assess the degree to which patients' lives are shortened by ELDs. METHOD: Postal survey of 857 UK medical practitioners. Comparison of UK data with published data from other countries, permissive and not permissive of medical involvement in actively hastening death. FINDINGS: UK doctors, compared with those in permissive and non-permissive countries, are relatively cautious in shortening life by more than a few days. Willingness to discuss ELDs with patients and relatives is relatively high in the UK, but not as high as in permissive countries. UK doctors are highly likely to discuss ELDs with colleagues, and are more likely to do this than doctors in other countries, whether these countries are permissive or not. INTERPRETATION: UK endof-life decision-making is particularly collegiate and reflects caution about actions that significantly shorten life. A culture of sharing decisions with patients and relatives is also evident.
BACKGROUND: To assess the extent to which UK doctors discuss end-of-life decisions (ELDs) with patients, relatives and colleagues, and to assess the degree to which patients' lives are shortened by ELDs. METHOD: Postal survey of 857 UK medical practitioners. Comparison of UK data with published data from other countries, permissive and not permissive of medical involvement in actively hastening death. FINDINGS: UK doctors, compared with those in permissive and non-permissive countries, are relatively cautious in shortening life by more than a few days. Willingness to discuss ELDs with patients and relatives is relatively high in the UK, but not as high as in permissive countries. UK doctors are highly likely to discuss ELDs with colleagues, and are more likely to do this than doctors in other countries, whether these countries are permissive or not. INTERPRETATION: UK endof-life decision-making is particularly collegiate and reflects caution about actions that significantly shorten life. A culture of sharing decisions with patients and relatives is also evident.
Authors: Hilde Buiting; Johannes van Delden; Bregje Onwuteaka-Philpsen; Judith Rietjens; Mette Rurup; Donald van Tol; Joseph Gevers; Paul van der Maas; Agnes van der Heide Journal: BMC Med Ethics Date: 2009-10-27 Impact factor: 2.652
Authors: Lieve Van den Block; Reginald Deschepper; Johan Bilsen; Nathalie Bossuyt; Viviane Van Casteren; Luc Deliens Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-03-09 Impact factor: 3.295