Request for Euthanasia in Geriatrics
Type de matériel :
44
A request for euthanasia was formally made by a patient following a television broadcast. This encouraged us to examine the approach used by professionals confronted with such questions. 679 anonymous questionnaires were sent to healthcare workers, of which 104 could be analyzed. The origin and the reasons for requesting euthanasia are examined, as well as the people consulted and the reasons for changing opinions. The patient profile can thus be better defined and the meaning of the request can be analyzed. It is then possible to identify what can be offered to support a person’s life project when their first request is euthanasia. Faced with the multiplicity of available options, we argue for the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in hospitals: this allows for a deeper reflection about palliative care and the resources offered to the sick and the elderly. Finally, the introduction of sedation (within a highly structured ethical framework) and the elaboration of advance care directives are presented as a possible future development.
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