Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in cases of terminal cancer: the opinions of physicians and nurses in Greece

Med Sci Law. 2008 Oct;48(4):333-41. doi: 10.1258/rsmmsl.48.4.333.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of physicians and nurses on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in advanced cancer patients in Greece. Two hundred and fifteen physicians and 250 nurses from various hospitals in Greece completed a questionnaire concerning issues on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. More physicians (43.3%) than nurses (3.2%, p < 0.0005) reported that in the case of a cardiac or respiratory arrest, they would not attempt to revive a terminally ill cancer patient. Only 1.9% of physicians and 3.6% of nurses agreed on physician-assisted suicide. Forty-seven per cent of physicians and 45.2% of nurses would prefer the legalization of a terminally ill patient's hastened death; in the case of such a request, 64.2% of physicians and 55.2% of nurses (p = 0.06) would consider it if it was legal. The majority of the participants tended to disagree with euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in terminally ill cancer patients, probably due to the fact that these acts in Greece are illegal.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Euthanasia*
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms*
  • Suicide, Assisted*
  • Terminally Ill*