Abstract
BackgroundEuthanasia poses a hot topic of argument in all modern societies. While in several countries the law allows euthanasia under certain conditions, in others, such as Greece, there is no established legal background. This is essentially derived from the conflict on the right to life, which is constitutionally guaranteed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of relatives or friends of critically ill patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) towards euthanasia in a Greek hospital.MethodsThis is a prospective study based on questionnaires completed by relatives and friends of patients hospitalized in the ICU. Relatives/friends of critically ill patients hospitalized in the ICU with APACHE Score ≥ 20 completed a questionnaire consisting of information about their relationship to the patient and another part with psychometric questions on euthanasia. SPSS 19.0 was used for analysis of the data.ResultsOne hundred forty-three questionnaires were collected (50.7% female, 33.6% patients’ parents). 62.9% of responders considered the quality of life (QOL) of the patient more important compared to the value of life. 48.3% were in favor of euthanasia and 66.4% knew little about euthanasia. 48.3% agreed in institutionalizing euthanasia under certain circumstances. Consensus to discontinue the therapeutic interventions significantly correlated to patient’s age and severity of the disease.ConclusionsIn the present study we found that the more the APACHE II score increased the more positive were the participants when asked to give consent or decide to accelerate the end of life of the patient. Overall, the level of knowledge of the relatives of critically ill patients on euthanasia and the currently used law in Greece on euthanasia is poor.
Highlights
Euthanasia poses a hot topic of argument in all modern societies
In regards of responders’ characteristics and their relationship to patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 33.6% (n = 48) of the sample consisted of the parents of the patient hospitalized in the ICU, 18.9% (n = 27) were patient’s partner, 18.9% (n = 27) were friends, 16.8 (n = 24) were relatives, 10.5% (n = 15) were colleagues and 1.4% (n = 2) were in another relationship with the patient
When associated to the intention of relatives or friends to decide on the possible end of life of the ICU patient, we found that high APACHE score of the patient increased the supportive to euthanasia opinion of the participants
Summary
While in several countries the law allows euthanasia under certain conditions, in others, such as Greece, there is no established legal background. This is essentially derived from the conflict on the right to life, which is constitutionally guaranteed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of relatives or friends of critically ill patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) towards euthanasia in a Greek hospital. Development of medical science, rapid evolution of medical technology and progress in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) medicine offered the potential to effectively treat. Euthanasia is defined as "end to life out of mercy", in end-stage disease, or situations due to which life becomes unpleasant or unbearable. In the original concept of euthanasia, the word “eu” means good, beautiful, brave, noble, while the second part of the word expresses the natural
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