Doctors' decisions influenced by religion, culture and geography, finds study
Decisions taken by European doctors to limit life sustaining treatment to patients in intensive care units vary according to religion, culture and geography, suggests a major study into 'end of life' practices in different European countries. The Ethicus study, carried out by researchers from the Hadassah-Hebrew University medical centre in Jerusalem, Israel, examined the cases of more than 30,000 patients in 17 European countries. It concluded that limiting life-sustaining treatment is common, but that the practice varies between countries. The major factors behind such variations are religious and cultural differences, but the team also noted that doctors' values and practices also differ between countries. Doctors from southern Europe are less likely to withhold treatment in order to shorten 'the dying process' than those in northern Europe, the research found. Furthermore, life sustaining treatments are more likely to be withdrawn if the doctors are Protestant, Roman Catholic or have no religious affiliation than if they are Muslim, Jewish or Greek Orthodox. Alongside geographic and religious factors, however, the study suggests that a patient's age, diagnosis and length of stay in intensive care are also key considerations. In all, nearly three quarters of patients whose deaths were covered by the study had had limitations on treatment. One third of such limitations involved withdrawing treatment and another third involved withholding treatment. The study was led by Professor Charles Sprung from the Hadassah-Hebrew University, who said: 'In the 1970s an attempt was made to resuscitate every patient. That decision is no longer routine. [D]octors listen to patients and their families to understand what the individual patient would prefer and what is best for the patient.' Professor Sprung hopes the research will help doctors, nurses, patients and families 'to deal better with the difficult, painful decisions that are made on a daily basis.'
Countries
Israel