Attitudes Toward Medical Assistance in Dying Among Swedish Palliative Care Professionals
Segerlantz, Mikael LU ; Beck, Ingela LU ; Björk, Joar ; Elmlund, Mattias ; Fürst, Carl Johan LU ; Jacobsen, Juliet LU ; Rasmussen, Birgit LU and Schelin, Maria E C LU
(2024)
In Journal of Palliative Medicine
- Abstract
Background:
The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it.
Objective:
To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals.
Study Design:
A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care... (More)
(Less)
Background:
The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it.
Objective:
To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals.
Study Design:
A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care (including physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, administrators, and researchers).
Results:
Of the 866 conference participants who were invited, 444 (51%) participated. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (89%); 60% were nurses and 17% physicians. The results showed that 38% opposed euthanasia, 36% supported it, and 26% remained undecided, with similar findings regarding physician-assisted suicide. There was a significant trend of increasingly negative attitudes with age and experience in palliative care (
p < 0.01). Physicians emerged as the group most opposed to euthanasia (80%), whereas assistant nurses were the most positive, with 13% opposing legalization, and 33% of the nurses opposed euthanasia. The open-ended questions revealed thoughts regarding the complexity of the issue and the need for further discussion and education.
Conclusion:
In Sweden, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is illegal, more than one-third of palliative care professionals were in favor of legalizing these practices while one-fourth were undecided, these proportions differed markedly between professions. Further, we uncovered a significant need for further discussion and education.
- author
- Segerlantz, Mikael
LU
; Beck, Ingela
LU
; Björk, Joar
; Elmlund, Mattias
; Fürst, Carl Johan
LU
; Jacobsen, Juliet
LU
; Rasmussen, Birgit
LU
and Schelin, Maria E C
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-12-13
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- Journal of Palliative Medicine
- publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85212210914
- pmid:39665679
- ISSN
- 1096-6218
- DOI
- 10.1089/jpm.2024.0183
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a80b698a-5ff4-46b0-be91-3bf56d30a570
- date added to LUP
- 2024-12-16 17:38:03
- date last changed
- 2025-07-04 01:43:48
@article{a80b698a-5ff4-46b0-be91-3bf56d30a570,
abstract = {{<p><br>
<br>
Background:<br>
The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it. <br>
<br>
Objective:<br>
To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals. <br>
<br>
Study Design:<br>
A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care (including physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, administrators, and researchers).<br>
<br>
Results:<br>
Of the 866 conference participants who were invited, 444 (51%) participated. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (89%); 60% were nurses and 17% physicians. The results showed that 38% opposed euthanasia, 36% supported it, and 26% remained undecided, with similar findings regarding physician-assisted suicide. There was a significant trend of increasingly negative attitudes with age and experience in palliative care (<br>
p < 0.01). Physicians emerged as the group most opposed to euthanasia (80%), whereas assistant nurses were the most positive, with 13% opposing legalization, and 33% of the nurses opposed euthanasia. The open-ended questions revealed thoughts regarding the complexity of the issue and the need for further discussion and education. <br>
<br>
Conclusion:<br>
In Sweden, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is illegal, more than one-third of palliative care professionals were in favor of legalizing these practices while one-fourth were undecided, these proportions differed markedly between professions. Further, we uncovered a significant need for further discussion and education.<br>
</p>}},
author = {{Segerlantz, Mikael and Beck, Ingela and Björk, Joar and Elmlund, Mattias and Fürst, Carl Johan and Jacobsen, Juliet and Rasmussen, Birgit and Schelin, Maria E C}},
issn = {{1096-6218}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
publisher = {{Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.}},
series = {{Journal of Palliative Medicine}},
title = {{Attitudes Toward Medical Assistance in Dying Among Swedish Palliative Care Professionals}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2024.0183}},
doi = {{10.1089/jpm.2024.0183}},
year = {{2024}},
}