title: Dying cancer patients' own opinions on euthanasia: an expression of autonomy? A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deliberations on euthanasia are mostly theoretical, and often lack first-hand perspectives of the affected persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients suffering from cancer in a palliative phase were interviewed about their perspectives of euthanasia in relation to autonomy. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis with no predetermined categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The informants expressed different positions on euthanasia, ranging from support to opposition, but the majority were undecided due to the complexity of the problem. The informants' perspectives on euthanasia in relation to autonomy focused on decision making, being affected by (1) power and (2) trust. Legalization of euthanasia was perceived as either (a) increasing patient autonomy by patient empowerment, or (b) decreasing patient autonomy by increasing the medical power of the health care staff, which could be frightening. The informants experienced dependence on others, and expressed various levels of trust in others' intentions, ranging from full trust to complete mistrust.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dying cancer patients perceive that they cannot feel completely independent, which affects true autonomous decision making. Further, when considering legalization of euthanasia, the perspectives of patients fearing the effects of legalization should also be taken into account, not only those of patients opting for it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. marit.karlsson@ki.se
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milberg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D035502:Trust