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The Views of Clergy Regarding Ethical Controversies in Care at the End of Life.
- Source :
-
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management . Jan2018, Vol. 55 Issue 1, p65-74.e9. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- <bold>Context: </bold>Although religion often informs ethical judgments, little is known about the views of American clergy regarding controversial end-of-life ethical issues including allowing to die and physician aid in dying or physician-assisted suicide (PAD/PAS).<bold>Objective: </bold>To describe the views of U.S. clergy concerning allowing to die and PAD/PAS.<bold>Methods: </bold>A survey was mailed to 1665 nationally representative clergy between 8/2014 to 3/2015 (60% response rate). Outcome variables included beliefs about whether the terminally ill should ever be "allowed to die" and moral/legal opinions concerning PAD/PAS.<bold>Results: </bold>Most U.S. clergy are Christian (98%). Clergy agreed that there are circumstances in which the terminally ill should be "allowed to die" (80%). A minority agreed that PAD/PAS was morally (28%) or legally (22%) acceptable. Mainline/Liberal Christian clergy were more likely to approve of the morality (56%) and legality (47%) of PAD/PAS, in contrast to all other clergy groups (6%-17%). Greater end-of-life medical knowledge was associated with moral disapproval of PAD/PAS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.51; 95% CI, 1.04-2.19, P = 0.03). Those reporting distrust in health care were less likely to oppose legalization of PAD/PAS (AOR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.99, P < 0.02). Religious beliefs associated with disapproval of PAD/PAS included "life's value is not tied to the patient's quality of life" (AOR 2.12; 95% CI, 0.1.49-3.03, P < 0.001) and "only God numbers our days" (AOR 2.60; 95% CI, 1.77-3.82, P < 0.001).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Most U.S. clergy approve of "allowing to die" but reject the morality or legalization of PAD/PAS. Respectful discussion in public discourse should consider rather than ignore underlying religious reasons informing end-of-life controversies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 08853924
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Pain & Symptom Management
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 126804931
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.05.009