Attitudes of Psychiatric Nurses about the Request for Euthanasia on the Basis of Unbearable Mental Suffering( XXXX ).

@entity1 @entity1032 @entity146
INTRODUCTION: When @entity146 @entity1 express a wish for euthanasia, this should first and foremost be interpreted as a cry for help. Due to their close day-to-day relationship, @entity146 nurses may play an important and central role in responding to such requests. However, little is known about nurses' attitudes towards euthanasia motivated by @entity1032 . OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide insight into the attitudes and actions taken by @entity146 nurses when confronted with a @entity1 's euthanasia request based on @entity1032 ( @entity1032 ). METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to 11 @entity146 hospitals in the Flemish part of Belgium. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 70% (N = 627). Psychiatric nurses were frequently confronted with a request for euthanasia, either directly (N = 329, 53%) or through a colleague (N = 427, 69%). A majority (N = 536, 84%) did not object to euthanasia in a psychiatrically ill population with @entity1032 . Confounding factors were the @entity146 diagnosis and the type of ward where the nurses were working. Most @entity1 acknowledged a lack of knowledge and skills to adequately address the euthanasia request (N = 434, 71%). Nearly unanimously (N = 618, 99%), study @entity1 indicated that dealing with euthanasia requests and other end-of-life issues should be part of the formal training of nurses. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the need for ethically sound and comprehensive provision of care. Psychiatric nurses play an important role in dealing with the complex issue of requests for euthanasia. There is also a need for education, training and clear guidelines on the level of health care organizations.
