Quebec physicians' perspectives on medical aid in dying for incompetent patients with dementia.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To elicit Quebec physicians' attitudes towards extending medical aid in dying (MAiD) to incompetent patients and to compare the attitudes of family physicians to those of other medical specialists.

Methods

We conducted a postal survey among physicians caring for patients with dementia. We used hypothetical vignettes to elicit their attitudes towards MAiD and continuous deep sedation (CDS) to relieve suffering at end of life. Two patients were depicted in the vignettes: one with cancer eligible for MAiD and one with dementia. The generalized estimating equation approach was used to investigate factors associated with attitudes, including the stage of the illness (advanced vs terminal dementia) and the presence or absence of a prior written request.

Results

A

SUBMITTER: Bravo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6964547 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature