Characteristics of end-of-life decisions: survey of UK medical practitioners

Background: To assess the extent to which UK doctors discuss end-of-life decisions (ELDs) with patients, relatives and colleagues, and to assess the degree to which patients' lives are shortened by ELDs. Method: Postal survey of 857 UK medical practitioners. Comparison of UK data with published data from other countries, permissive and not permissive of medical involvement in actively hastening death. Findings: UK doctors, compared with those in permissive and non-permissive countries, are relatively cautious in shortening life by more than a few days. Willingness to discuss ELDs with patients and relatives is relatively high in the UK, but not as high as in permissive countries. UK doctors are highly likely to discuss ELDs with colleagues, and are more likely to do this than doctors in other countries, whether these countries are permissive or not. Interpretation: UK end-of-life decision-making is particularly collegiate and reflects caution about actions that significantly shorten life. A culture of sharing decisions with patients and relatives is also evident.