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KMID : 0607320090180020137
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Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
2009 Volume.18 No. 2 p.137 ~ p.146
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Attitudes towards Euthanasia among Physicians and Nurses
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Kim Sook-Nam
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Abstract
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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the attitudes of physicians and nurses toward euthanasia.
Methods: The participants were 276 physicians and nurses working at general hospitals. Data was collected in October and November 2008. The measurement tool used was Attitudes Toward Euthanasia by Wasserman, Clair, & Ritchey (2005). The data was analyzed according to descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program.
Results: The highest score item was ‘when a patient needs euthanasia in the process of dying, a doctor can help the patient die by removing a device to continue his life’. The lowest score item for physicians was ‘when a patient’s pain is severe, a doctor can administer an excessive dose to bring the patient’s life to an end’. The lowest score item for nurses was ‘when it is judged that a patient doesn’t have the possibility to recover, a doctor can administer an excessive dose to bring the patient’s life to an end’.
Conclusion: Physicians and nurses should be encouraged to treat moral issues about patients in the terminal stages more sensitively by emphasizing the dignity of life and establishing an compassionate attitude toward euthanasia.
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KEYWORD
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Euthanasia, Attitude, Physician, Nurse
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