title: Attitudes towards euthanasia among Greek intensive care unit physicians and nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the attitudes of Greek intensive care unit (ICU) medical and nursing staff towards euthanasia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ICU physicians and nurses deal with end-of-life dilemmas on a daily basis. Therefore, the exploration of their stances on euthanasia is worthwhile.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive quantitative study conducted in three ICUs in Athens. The convenience sample included 39 physicians and 107 nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of respondents, 52% defined euthanasia inaccurately, as withholding or withdrawal of treatment, while 15% ranked limitation of life-support among the several forms of euthanasia, together with active shortening of the dying process and physician - assisted suicide. Only one third of participants defined euthanasia correctly. While 59% of doctors and 64% of nurses support the legalization of active euthanasia, just 28% and 26% of them, respectively, agree with it ethically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Confusion prevails among Greek ICU physicians and nurses regarding the definition of euthanasia. The majority of staff disagrees with active euthanasia, but upholds its legalization.
authors.affiliation: First Critical Care Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 45-47 Ypsilantou Str, Athens 10675, Greece. Electronic address: a.icusn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kranidiotis
authors.affiliation: First Critical Care Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 45-47 Ypsilantou Str, Athens 10675, Greece.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ropa
authors.affiliation: Sixth Respiratory Medicine Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, 152 Mesogeion Ave, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mprianas
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Department, Nicosia General Hospital, 215 Old Road Nikosia-Limassol, Nikosia 2029, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kyprianou
authors.affiliation: First Critical Care Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 45-47 Ypsilantou Str, Athens 10675, Greece.
authors.forename: Serafim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nanas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: End-of-life decisions; Euthanasia; Limitation of life-sustaining treatment; Quality of life; Shared decision-making