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J Med Ethics 2006;32:316-320 doi:10.1136/jme.2004.010462
  • Clinical ethics

Finnish doctors and the realisation of patient autonomy in the context of end of life decision making

  1. H-M Hildén1,
  2. M-L Honkasalo2,
  3. P Louhiala3
  1. 1Licentiate of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
  2. 2Docent, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
  3. 3Lecturer, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
  1. Correspondence to:
 Hanna-Mari Hildén
 Ida Aalbergin tie 5 B 23, 00400 Helsinki, Finland; hhilden{at}luukku.com
  • Received 2 February 2004
  • Accepted 1 March 2005
  • Revised 19 February 2005

Abstract

Patient autonomy is a fundamental principle in end of life decision making. However, its realisation may take a variety of forms. Discourse analysis was conducted in a qualitative interview study of 19 physicians. The physicians made use of three different discourses, each of which contained a specific understanding of patient autonomy and a physician’s proper activities in the context of end of life decision making.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared

  • The ethics committee of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa approved the study protocol.

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