THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN ACTIVE EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE

The researchers wanted to obtain insight into the cooperation between physicians and nurses with regard to active euthanasia and physician-a ssisted suicide (EAS), In study I a st-ratified random sample of 203 c linical specialists, 152 general practitioners (GPs) and 50 nursing ho me physicians (NHPs) participated, hn study II a random sample of 521 GPs was drawn from the province of North Holland and a random sample o f 521 GPs was drawn from the rest of the Netherlands. For study III al l NHPs were approached, Data were collected by means of an interview i n study I, Tn studies IH and III an anonymous, postal questionnaire wa s used, Approximately half of the GPs did not consult with nurses abou t a patient's request for EAS, the intention to administer EAS, and th e actual administration, in 5% of: cases, the NHPs and the specialists did not consult with nurses concerning these aspects. The GPs and NHP s indicated in 4% and 3% of the cases, respectively, that nurses admin istered the lethal drug(s) to the patients; the corresponding figure f or the specialists was 21%, Almost all GPs and NHPs and about three-qu arters a the specialists thought that nurses should sever be allowed t o administer EAS.