INTRODUCTION: Deliberations on euthanasia are mostly theoretical, and often lack first-hand perspectives of the affected persons. METHOD: Sixty-six patients suffering from cancer in a palliative phase were interviewed about their perspectives of euthanasia in relation to autonomy. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis with no predetermined categories. RESULTS: The informants expressed different positions on euthanasia, ranging from support to opposition, but the majority were undecided due to the complexity of the problem. The informants' perspectives on euthanasia in relation to autonomy focused on decision making, being affected by (1) power and (2) trust. Legalization of euthanasia was perceived as either (a) increasing patient autonomy by patient empowerment, or (b) decreasing patient autonomy by increasing the medical power of the health care staff, which could be frightening. The informants experienced dependence on others, and expressed various levels of trust in others' intentions, ranging from full trust to complete mistrust. CONCLUSIONS: Dying cancer patients perceive that they cannot feel completely independent, which affects true autonomous decision making. Further, when considering legalization of euthanasia, the perspectives of patients fearing the effects of legalization should also be taken into account, not only those of patients opting for it.
INTRODUCTION: Deliberations on euthanasia are mostly theoretical, and often lack first-hand perspectives of the affected persons. METHOD: Sixty-six patients suffering from cancer in a palliative phase were interviewed about their perspectives of euthanasia in relation to autonomy. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis with no predetermined categories. RESULTS: The informants expressed different positions on euthanasia, ranging from support to opposition, but the majority were undecided due to the complexity of the problem. The informants' perspectives on euthanasia in relation to autonomy focused on decision making, being affected by (1) power and (2) trust. Legalization of euthanasia was perceived as either (a) increasing patient autonomy by patient empowerment, or (b) decreasing patient autonomy by increasing the medical power of the health care staff, which could be frightening. The informants experienced dependence on others, and expressed various levels of trust in others' intentions, ranging from full trust to complete mistrust. CONCLUSIONS: Dying cancerpatients perceive that they cannot feel completely independent, which affects true autonomous decision making. Further, when considering legalization of euthanasia, the perspectives of patients fearing the effects of legalization should also be taken into account, not only those of patients opting for it.
Authors: Derek W Braverman; Brian S Marcus; Paul G Wakim; Mark R Mercurio; Gary S Kopf Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2017-07-15 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Dietmar Weixler; Sophie Roider-Schur; Rudolf Likar; Claudia Bozzaro; Thomas Daniczek; Angelika Feichtner; Christoph Gabl; Bernhard Hammerl-Ferrari; Maria Kletecka-Pulker; Ulrich H J Körtner; Hilde Kössler; Johannes G Meran; Aurelia Miksovsky; Bettina Pusswald; Thomas Wienerroither; Herbert Watzke Journal: Wien Med Wochenschr Date: 2016-12-06
Authors: Cees Dm Ruijs; Gerrit van der Wal; Ad Jfm Kerkhof; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2014-12-23 Impact factor: 3.234