Table 3 Responses regarding whether to continue ventilator treatment
Argument | Doctors/public | Percentage (CI) | Priority (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Ventilator treatment should be continued because discontinuing it might be perceived as a form of euthanasia | Doctors General public | 6.3 (3.5–9.1) 28.3 (24.3–32.3) | 5.5% 14.9% |
A son is strongly against discontinuing ventilator treatment, thus treatment should be continued | Doctors General public | 10.1 (6.6–13.6) 35.2 (31.0–39.4) | 0.4% 7.4% |
The treatment should be discontinued because it only prolongs the death process | Doctors General public | 91.9 (88.9–94.9) 81.5 (78.1–84.9) | 73% 42.5% |
The treatment should be discontinued because it is in accordance with the wishes of the patient | Doctors General public | 83.9 (79.6–88.2) 76.2 (72.4–80.0) | 21.1% 35.2% |