Meanings and attitudes toward end-of-life preferences in Israel

Thirty-six elderly people in Israel were interviewed concerning their meani ngs and attitudes toward end-of-life preferences. The phenomenological anal ysis method resulted in the identification of six meaning themes and a cont inuum of favourable to unfavourable attitude positions for each meaning the me. The combination of meaning themes and attitude positions produced 4 pat terns of perspectives toward euthanasia, as well as a more holistic and int egrative cultural dimension that was labeled Israeli ego integrity. The 6 m eaning themes were (a) moral perspectives, (b) religious beliefs, (c) menta l and physical suffering, (d) family and community implications, (e) gainin g control by willingness to trust others, and (f) previous experiences with death. The 4 Patterns of perspectives toward euthanasia euthanasia consequ ences for others, religious perspectives, concerns for personal suffering, and concerns for moral choice. The extensive diversity in the meaning-attit ude perspectives a small sample of elderly people suggested challenges for Israeli policy in regard to legalizing the living will to respect patients' rights to make end-of-life decisions.