Euthanasia as social representation from the Gerontological, professional and citizen perspective.

Abstract

General objective: To understand the influence that the social representation of euthanasia has on vital decisions in the face of a situation of terminal illness of older adults, in the family, health professionals in training, lawyers and priests, as subjects. social. Specific objectives: Identify what factors intervene to make the decision to apply or not euthanasia in the elderly population; identify the implications of the different social subjects to carry out the application of euthanasia and analyze the beliefs and values ​​of the elderly in social representation. Methodology: According to the type of study, a qualitative, cross-sectional descriptive approach was carried out, as well as semi-structured interviews that were carried out with characters with certain characteristics that were required for the investigation. These characters were doctors, thanatologists, lawyers, priests and adults. greater. Results and Conclusions: It was concluded that 80% of the interviewees are in favor of euthanasia, giving us their opinion about personal experiences they have lived and how difficult it has been, changing their negative thinking to positive by the Circumstances that lead to a family member undergoing a difficult and painful treatment, reflecting on the importance of feelings as the will of the patient for the right to a dignified death. 20% are against it mainly because of the convictions that the person has and the influence of their professional ethics as well as their culture and/or tradition as well as their educational background, family and social environment.