Letters
Ethics Palliative care
Volume 177 - Issue 3

The intention to hasten death of terminally ill patients

Authors:  Mathew Piercy, Gerald B Fogarty, Aubrey W Jansz, David M Gawler, Luis Vitetta, Avni Sali Professor and and David Kenner

Med J Aust 2002; 177 (3): 165-167. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04715.x
Published online: 5 August 2002
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To the Editor: We wish to comment on the article by Douglas et al about surgeons hastening death.1

Recently, Ray2 noted that, historically, surgeons have had to witness their patients' pain probably longer than any other medical specialty. Hence, it is not surprising to read Douglas and colleagues' report1 that more than a third of surgeons surveyed performed life-terminating events without explicit and persistent requests. The desire for death, as perceived by doctors and patients, has been correlated with ratings of pain, depression and poor family support.3,4

Surgeons, while intending "no harm", could be seen to be palliating themselves (relieving their own distress) as well as their patients' when performing life-terminating events. Helplessness, hopelessness and negative attitudes toward life-sustaining treatments are common and understandable in palliative care, and experienced by both doctors and patients.3,4

Surgeons are relatively new to palliative care and could have a significant contribution to make to the psychosocial support of cancer patients with terminal illness. Decisions by surgeons about hastening death may be modified by greater interaction with their patients' families and with other healthcare providers working with terminally ill patients.

A clinical-outcomes study of 102 consecutive deaths of terminally ill patients admitted to hospice care during 1997–1999 highlights the importance of family support in the outcomes immediately before death.5 The study period coincided with a time of heightened awareness of euthanasia in Australia.

Fifty-six per cent of the patients had received continuous family support and 44% sporadic support; these patients appeared to have less distress and better preterminal outcomes, despite 10% experiencing significant family conflict and distress. However, no spontaneous or other requests for euthanasia were recorded in patient files or notes by staff. This could reflect, in part, family support received in an environment conducive to positive interactions between patients, their families and health professionals. Involving such palliative care teams in surgeons' care for terminally ill patients may have a significant effect on both pre-terminal outcomes and hence requests for euthanasia.

Authors

  • Mathew Piercy MB BS1
  • Gerald B Fogarty BSc, MB BS(Hons)1
  • Aubrey W Jansz MB BS, FRACS1
  • David M Gawler MB BS, FRACS, FRCS1
  • Luis Vitetta1
  • Avni Sali Professor and1
  • David Kenner1
  • 1. Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, VIC.
  • 2. John Faulkner Hospital, Coburg, VIC.
  • 3. Northern Hospital, Epping, VIC.
  • 4. Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC.
  • 5. Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: mepiercy@idx.com.au

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