Voluntary euthanasia and the nurse: an Australian survey.
This article presents the results of a survey of the attitudes and practices of nurses in Victoria with regard to requests for active or passive help in dying from patients who were suffering from a terminal or incurable disease. Questionnaires were sent to 1942 nurses who had been selected at random, 943 nurses (49%) of whom returned completed questionnaires. The survey indicates that a clear majority of those who responded to the questionnaire support active voluntary euthanasia. Many nurses have collaborated with doctors in the provision of active voluntary euthanasia and a few have acted without consulting a doctor. Seventy-eight per cent of nurses thought the law should be changed to allow doctors to take active steps to bring about a patient's death under some circumstances; and 65% of nurses indicated that they would be willing to collaborate with doctors in the provision of active voluntary euthanasia if it were legal.
Monash University, Centre for Human Bioethics, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D034723:Double Effect Principle; D004989:Ethics; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005065:Euthanasia; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010820:Physicians; D012067:Religion; D012297:Right to Die; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria; D028761:Withholding Treatment