Determinantes na opinião sobre eutanásia em amostra de médicos portugueses

Abstract

Objetivos: com este estudo pretendemos identificar potenciais determinantes na opinião de médicos portugueses sobre eutanásia e verificar se o confronto com cenários concretos influencia essa opinião. Material e método: foi distribuído um questionário por médicos de várias especialidades mais relacionadas com a potencial prática de eutanásia, por meio do qual aferimos o grau de concordância com a aplicabilidade dessa prática em situações concretas. Resultados: dos 251 médicos que participaram do estudo, 58,2% foram a favor da legalização da eutanásia em Portugal. Na maioria dos cenários que compreendiam o conceito de eutanásia voluntária, a concordância com sua aplicabilidade foi de cerca de 55%. Já nos cenários de eutanásia não voluntária, mais de 60% dos médicos discordaram de sua aplicação. Conclusão: parece claro que os critérios mais relevantes para concordar ou não com a eutanásia são o respeito pela autonomia do doente e a existência de sofrimento. Objectives: This study seeks to establish potential determinants in the opinion of Portuguese physicians on euthanasia, and to verify if a confrontation with concrete scenarios has an effect on this opinion. Methods: a questionnaire was distributed to physicians of various specializations with greater links to the potential practice of euthanasia. We researched the degree of agreement regarding the applicability of euthanasia to concrete situations. Results: Of a total of 251 surveyed physicians, 58.2% favored the legalization of euthanasia in Portugal. In most scenarios that included the concept of voluntary euthanasia, agreement with the applicability of euthanasia was around 55%. In scenarios where the concept of non-voluntary euthanasia was explicit, more than 60% of physicians disagreed with its application. Conclusion: It seems clear that the most relevant factor influencing the physicians' agreement with the applicability of euthanasia is respect for the patient's autonomy, and the existence of suffering.

Conscientious Objection and Other Motivations for Refusal to Treat in Hastened Death: A Systematic Review

“…Hastened death is often not well accepted socially, especially in rural and smaller communities [38,42]. Older HCPs are also more likely not to accept hastened death procedures [44]. The influence that co-workers and bosses can have on this decision has the potential to be quite impactful, which could help to understand why several services may end up including all professionals as conscientious objectors [45,46].…”

Perceptions of Portuguese Doctors Regarding Hastened Death Scenarios: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is in agreement with the results of a previous study carried out on a sample of Portuguese physicians. 1 Approximately half (52.3%) of the physicians included in the sample agreed with hastening death in the standard case of a newborn who suffered from a severe and terminal condition with minimal chance of survival. Conversely, the lowest level of agreement was observed in standard cases 3 (9.2%), 5 (29.3%), 6 (21.5%), and 8 (30.5%).…”

“…The word euthanasia comes from the Greek terms eu and thanatos, which mean, respectively, 'good' and 'death'. 1 In general, it should be understood as "deliberately and intentionally carrying out an act with the clear intention of ending the life of a competent and informed person with an incurable disease who has voluntarily requested that his or her life be ended", corresponding to the concept of active euthanasia. 2 In contrast, the term 'medically assisted suicide' occurs when a physician prescribes to the patient the means to end his own life, but has no active role in the administration of the lethal substance, with the final action being performed by the patient himself.…”