| Popis: |
This study of euthanasia was based on random samples of 264 clergymen and 185 registered nurses from Ohio. The data were collected through the use of questionnaires. The analysis included the computation of percentage distribution, chi square, gamma correlation and the Guttman scalogram. The findings were subjected to the control of relevant background variables including age, size of home community, religion, role perception, training in death counseling and medical specialization. The data analysis focused on the following major areas: death with dignity, acceptance of passive and active euthanasia, euthanasia decision-making, legalization of euthanasia, euthanasia and the physician's role, and the nurse's role viz-a-viz the physician. The following major arguments, prevalent in the literature concerning the practice of euthanasia, were also considered: sanctity of life, use of pain-killing drugs, decision-making process, establishment of legal guidelines, the chance for a miracle cure, and the wedge argument. A number of theoretical frameworks were used in the interpretation of the findings; these include: medical sociology, with emphasis on interpreting the data through role theory and the sociology of profession, social gerontology, social Darwinism, eugenics and individual versus group perspectives. A main feature of this study was the comparative analysis of the attitudes of the two professions; the nurses and the clergy. The general findings of this study indicate that both professions are less opposed to death with dignity (euthanasia) than is commonly assumed. However, clergymen displayed more resistance to the practice of euthanasia than nurses. Some of the more specific findings of the study include the following: the need for euthanasia is not lessened by the use of pain-killing drugs, there was a tendency to favor a joint decision-making process, chances of a misdiagnosis or miracle cure were generally not considered valid arguments against euthanasia, and the opposition to legalizing euthanasia originates mainly from the possibility of potential abuses. |
