Attitudes among NHS doctors to requests for euthanasia

摘要: Abstract Objectives: To explore NHS doctors9 attitudes to competent patients9 requests for euthanasia and estimate the proportion of doctors who have taken active steps hasten a patient9s death. Design - Anonymous postal questionnaire, with no possibility follow up. The survey was conducted from December 1992 March 1993. Subjects: All (221) general practitioners 203 hospital consultants in one area England. Results: 273 responded question on whether patient had ever asked them Of these, 163 been to; 124 these take death; 38 119 (32%) complied such request (95% confidence interval 23% 40%). This represented 12% all those returned completed questionnaireand 9% sent questionnaire 6.3% 11.7%). A larger respondents (142/307 (46%)), however, would consider taking bring about death if it legal do so. Conclusions: Many face difficult decisions euthanasia. For benefit both patients should be discussed more openly.