Attitudes of Long-Term Care Social Workers Toward Physician-Assisted-Suicide

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies about attitudes toward physician-assisted-suicide focused little on attitudes of social workers despite their prominent role in work with the dying. This study, conducted in 2001, through a mail survey to long-term care social workers, examined attitudes toward physician-assisted-suicide (PAS) and the factors that impact on their attitudes. It also examined their knowledge and involvement in the PAS debate, and their involvement with end-of-life issues. The sample included 312 social workers, employed in not-for-profit long-term care facilities across New York State. The findings suggest that social workers are experienced with end-of-life issues and assume a leading role in the area of advance healthcare planning in their facilities. The findings also suggest that social workers in long-term care have diverse attitudes toward PAS, with the majority tending to agree with PAS under certain circumstances. Respondents to this survey do not feel educationally prepared for the issues ...