Published in:
01-04-2007 | Correspondence
Attitudes of European physicians, nurses, patients and families regarding end-of-life decisions: the ETHICATT study. Reply to A.M. Vrakking
Authors:
Charles L. Sprung, Sara Carmel, Mario Baras, Simon L. Cohen, Paulo Maia, Albertus Beishuizen, Daniel Nalos, Ivan Novak, Mia Svantesson, Julie Benbenishty, Beverly Henderson
Published in:
Intensive Care Medicine
|
Issue 4/2007
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Excerpt
Sir, We thank Vrakking et al. for their comments. They are correct in pointing out that the scenario of a patient with permanent unconsciousness requesting euthanasia is purely hypothetical, as that patient could not make an explicit request defined as active euthanasia. This type of information, nonetheless, is extremely important and similar to information obtained for advanced directives when individuals choose what they would want for hypothetical situations. Only by assessing competent patient's theoretical attitudes concerning potential possibilities including permanent unconsciousness can physicians be able to understand patient desires. …
