研究：医生离世时更安详

Doctors are less likely to die in hospital, have surgery or be admitted to intensive care, than the general public, new research has revealed.

一项新研究表明，比起普罗大众，医生死于医院、接受手术，或接受重症监护的几率更低。

While most people report a wish to die at home rather than in a medical facility, the majority of deaths do occur in a hospital or nursing home setting.

多数人都希望能在家安详地离开人世，但他们往往最终死于医院，或在养老院离世。

However, a recent study suggests doctors are more likely to die in a manner more consistent with end-of-life wishes, than the general population.

不过，近来一项研究表明，比起普罗大众，医生更有机会如自己所愿的那样安然离世。

Experts suggest one of the reasons doctors may receive less intensive end-of-life care is because they are all too aware of the burden it places on both the patient and their loved ones.

专家指出，医生较少接受临终陪护的原因之一，是他们在有生之年阅尽了病人和他们的家人在这方面所受的负担和苦楚。

Another reason, they put forward, is that doctors know better than most the benefits of palliative care in the home - and are able to afford to pay for the often expensive nursing.

另外，家庭安宁护理具有何种优势，医生也更心知肚明。而且，他们往往负担得起高额陪护费。

The study examined whether doctors receive higher or lower intensity end-of-life treatments compared with non-physicians.

研究人员收集了医生与非医护人员的数据样本，旨在比对两者在临终时接受的陪护情况。

They examined the medical records of people aged 66 or older who died between 2004 and 2011 in Massachusetts, Michigan, Utah and Vermont.

他们收集了马萨诸塞、密歇根、犹他与佛蒙特四州2004至2011年66岁（含）以上人口的医疗记录。

Researchers concluded doctors were less likely to die in a hospital compared with the general population - 28 percent versus 32 percent.

研究结论是，与普罗大众相比，医生死于医院病榻的几率较小。前者达32%，后者为28%。

They were also less likely to have surgery - 25 percent versus 27 percent - and were less likely to be admitted to intensive care - 26 percent versus 28 percent.

另外，医生接受手术，或需接受重症监护的几率也更低，分别为25%与26%。相较之下，普罗大众的几率则达27%与28%。

The authors wrote: 'The possible reasons physicians received less intense end-of-life care than others could be knowledge of its burdens and futility, as well as the benefits and the financial resources to pay for other treatment options, such as palliative care or skilled nursing required for death at home.'

研究人员写道：“医生较少接受临终重症监护，或许因为他们明白此举徒劳无功，也可能因为他们更偏爱，且负担得起安宁护理、家庭陪护等其他方式。”

Addressing the issue, Dr Jacquelyn Corley said: 'There comes a time for every person when his or her identity is gone, and the quality of life should be valued more than the mere presence of it.'

谈到临终陪护问题，杰奎琳·科利博士总结道：“人到晚年，还谈什么身份不身份的。如何走得安详宁静，才是最值得关心的。”

That, she said is a view shared by many healthcare professionals.

她说，这一点，许多医护人员都心知肚明。

Vocabulary

intensive care: 重症监护

palliative care: 安宁疗护