Attitudes of Acutely Ill Patients Towards Euthanasia in Hong Kong

R.C.S Lam,Wai-Tong Chien

doi:10.2174/1874434600701010001

Abstract

The global euthanasia debate by health care professionals has raised important ethical issues concerning the professional duties and responsibilities of nurses caring for terminal patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of acutely ill patients towards the practice of euthanasia in Hong Kong. A modified form of the 23-item Questionnaire for General Household Survey scale was used. This cross-sectional survey study was conducted with a stratified sample of in-patients recruited from a wide variety of departments in a regional, acute general hospital. Seventy-seven out of 129 patients responded (59.7%) and a high proportion of patients agreed with the use of euthanasia in the following circumstances: ‘where they were a third party’, if ‘someone they loved’ was affected, or if ‘they themselves were the patient’. Of the 77 patients, 54 agreed with active euthanasia (70.1%) and 65 with passive (84.4%). The results also indicated that a few socio-demographic characteristics (such as age, gender and household income) statistically significantly correlated with patients’ attitudes towards euthanasia. These findings highlight that Chinese patients with acute illness generally accept the use of euthanasia. Further research on the attitudes and perceptions of patients towards the use of euthanasia is recommended, particularly in diverse groups of Chinese and Asian patients with acute or terminal illness.

Highlights

The world-wide euthanasia debate among health care professionals, sociologists and ethicists raises important moral issues
Chao et al [3] explain that involuntary euthanasia does not involve the patient’s consent, even if the patient is competent to express his/her will and make decisions concerning the future, i.e. life saving or ending, but he/she has not been consulted and his/her life is ended by an act of euthanasia
The findings of this study identified that acutely ill patients expressed a preference and desire for the use of euthanasia and they generally accepted the practice of euthanasia, especially passive euthanasia

Summary

Introduction

The world-wide euthanasia debate among health care professionals, sociologists and ethicists raises important moral issues These life and death issues relate directly to the professional duties and responsibilities of nurses, as formal caregivers and advocates of patients. Euthanasia was defined as “the hastening of death of a patient to prevent further sufferings” [1] This broad definition encompasses several terms used in connection with different forms of euthanasia, including: voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary euthanasia; and active and passive euthanasia [2]. Chao et al [3] explain that involuntary euthanasia does not involve the patient’s consent, even if the patient is competent to express his/her will and make decisions concerning the future, i.e. life saving or ending, but he/she has not been consulted and his/her life is ended by an act of euthanasia. Non-voluntary euthanasia refers to euthanasia performed when a patient is not competent to make decisions; e.g. when a patient is comatose, mentally insufficient, or unable to express his/her own wishes, i.e. babies born with severe congenital abnormalities

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion