Peerapong Tangjitjaroen. Meanings and beliefs concerning death and acceptance of euthanasia among Thai nurses . Master's Degree(Medical and Health Social Sciences). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2005.
Meanings and beliefs concerning death and acceptance of euthanasia among Thai nurses
Abstract:
A nurse is a person attending the patient being treated for ailments and suffering. Today, technology and medical advancement have been dramatically improved but some medication just prolongs death. This depreciates human dignity. Some patients refuse the use of medical devices to prolong their lives. Nurses attending and therefore being closest to patients encounter situational dilemmas in decision making. This investigation is to study the opinions, meanings and beliefs about death and the acceptance of euthanasia among Thai nurse. In this qualitative research project, 11 nurses were interviewed, purposive sampling and in-depth interviews were conducted, content analysis was performed, and data interpreting was based on, human rights, religions, ethical, and legal perspectives. Findings are as follow: 1. Nurses trended to views death from both a professional and a lay cultural perspective. They shared with common people the view that coming face-to-face with death is a dreadful experience and that the end of life, suffering, separation and grief are things to avoid. However, they had another perspective, which was developed through socialization in their professional culture and their working experience. Their understanding of death was that it was something medical personal had to handle. They had to follow criteria for prolonging or shortening life and they had to know the physical indicators of death in terms of heart beat, breathing and brain function. 2. With regard to acceptance of euthanasia, that it was found the registered nurses had a positive attitude toward passive voluntary and situations in which patients are taken off life support systems when they are unconscious. They said that it is to prevent suffering. Patients and relatives have rights in terms of accepting or rejecting medication and it is helpful in economizing resources for other patients. However, nurses have negative reactions to aiding both active voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. They reason that they risk being tried for murder and that it is immoral and professionally unethical to put others to death. Instead the nurses recommended palliative care in the last stage as a good approach because it views patients holistically, and palliative care should be applicable without worries about laws and morality. Further, research should be conducted on patients and relatives needs and the needs of other personnel on the medical team to holistically reflect the acceptance of euthanasia.