의료인의 생명연장술에 대한 주관성 연구

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A research on subjective ideas about life sustaining treatment among health professionals

Seo, Su Mi Dept. of Hospice Nursing The Graduate School of Information in Clinical Nursing Hanyang University Directed by Prof. Kim, Boon Han, R.N., Ph.D.

The purpose of this study was to use the Q-methodology to understand the subjectivity structure about medical experts' life-sustaining treatment. For this purpose, the researcher sampled 38 medical experts working at the tertiary university hospitals in Incheon metropolis. The Q-sample consisted of 30 items in total, and the responses were processed using the PC QUANL program. As a result, medical experts's attitudes toward the life-sustaining treatment could be divided into 5 types. The first type was 'neutral medical experts' who thought that the medical experts should decide on the life sustaining treatment from a neutral perspective or under some ethical and objective guidelines. The second type was 'situation-centered medical experts' who thought that the medical experts should take into consideration patients' conditions, his family members' support and financial conditions. The third type was 'treatment-focused experts' who thought that since human life must have a value of dignity, the patients should continue to be treated. The fourth type was 'DNR' type who opposed insignificant treatment but support a death of dignity. The fifth type was 'ethical dilemma' type who thought that the medical experts should help patients or their family members to make a realistic choice, but who practiced the life-sustaining treatment upon family members' request. As discussed above, when patients are alert, it is essential for the medical staff to confirm their agreement, and if such a prior agreement should not be feasible, patients' intention is more important than their family members. Accordingly, it is urgent to publicize patients' right, while arranging some relevant policies.