Opinion of euthanasia

In my opinion, euthanasia is a continuation of palliative care and that doctors must respect patients’ autonomy including a wish to die. The latter argument suggests that cultural differences shape opinions about euthanasia, because the emphasis on autonomy is greater in English speaking countries than in other developed countries.

French doctors’ opinions towards euthanasia and collected data about their attitudes and practices. we compared medical specialties which demand different amounts of palliative care and different amount of empathy toward and communication with terminally ill patients.

In 2002, the regional centre for disease control of south-eastern france and the health and medical research national institute did a telephone survey of a sample of doctors,stratified by specialty. We selected general practitioners, oncologists, and neutrologists randomly from all French doctors, kept on file by the National Health Insurance Fund. We investigated respondents’ involvement in end of life care and palliative care,their attitude toward terminally ill patients,and whether euthanasia should be legalized, as in the Netherlands. We compared medical specialties with pearson’s.

Only a minority of respondents were trained in palliative care, especially neurologist. Oncologists treated more terminally ill patients during the past year and the general practitioners practised less often in palliative care unit.