Citation

Ogden RD, Young MG. Mature Medicine Canada 1999; 2(5): 283-285.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research on assisted death emphasizes aspects of the physician-patient relationship and usually overlooks the role of other healthcare professionals in patient decision-making. This is ironic since non-physician health-carers frequently have intensive involvement with dying patients. Data from two studies on Canadian nurses and social workers demonstrate significant willingness on behalf of these practitioners to be directly involved in assisted death decisions as well as social policy development. A shift from private to more public-assisted death decisions is identified. Given that these decisions are not exclusive to physicians, we propose that the medical profession might benefit from a shared, interdisciplinary approach.

Language: en

Keywords

Assisted death; clinical practice; decision making; Decision making; doctor patient relation; dying; euthanasia; Euthanasia; human; law; nurse; Nursing; Physician-assisted suicide; Professions; review; Social work; suicide