Author: Els Inghelbrecht
Date: 26-05-2010
Promotor: Prof. dr. Luc Deliens
Co-Promotors: Prof. dr. Freddy Mortier and Prof. dr. Johan Bilsen
SUMMARY OF THE DISSERTATION
Nurses have an important role in providing end-of-life care for terminally ill patients which automatically involves them in medical end-of-life decisions. However, few empirical data have been gathered on their views about and involvement in these practices. In this dissertation, it is demonstrated that most nurses are highly acceptant of euthanasia and other possible lifeshortening end-of-life decisions. They see an important role for themselves in such decisions, especially in end-of-life decision-making. Further, the dissertation describes how nurses are actually involved in different end-oflife practices with an emphasis on euthanasia, the administering of drugs without the patient’s explicit request and continuous deep sedation. The dissertation concludes with a general discussion of the findings and a number of implications and recommendations for practice and policy. Attitudes & role of nurses in euthanasia and other medical end-of-life decisions was written as a PhD-thesis.
