Euthanasia Approaches of Healthcare Professionals

• Published in: International journal of caring sciences 2024-04, Vol.17 (1), p.461-469
• Main Authors: Bulut, Aliye, Yigitbas, Cagla, Cakar, Enes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; covid-19; Euthanasia; Hospitals; internship; Medical personnel; Medical research; Midwifery; Nurses; nursing student; Patients; profession; Professional ethics; Questionnaires; Research methodology; Response rates
• ISSN: 1791-5201; 1792-037X

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and behaviors of healthcare professionals working in a public hospital towards euthanasia. Material and Methods: The population of the study was composed of a total of 375 healthcare professionals (physician, nurse, midwife and health technicians) working in a public hospital located in a province center in the Eastern Anatolia Region. In the study, sample calculation was not used, the entire population was tried to be reached and the data were collected from 373 people who voluntarily participated in the study (Response rate: 99.5%). A questionnaire form was used in the descriptive crosssectional study. Results: 18.5% of the participants in the study are physicians, 67.3% are nurses and 9.1% are midwives. Only 50.9% of the participants agree to provide care to the terminal patient. 55.5% of the participants said they should have the right to euthanasia. The rate of those who say it is unnecessary to care for the terminal period patient is 7.0%. It has been found that the occupation of the participant and the place where he / she spent most of his / her life are independent of each other and are effective in confirming and confirming euthanasia. Conclusion: It has been determined that the healthcare personnel do not have sufficient knowledge about euthanasia and the fact that they are a health technician and spent their life in the province are effective factors.