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Countertransference and ethics: A perspective on clinical dilemmas in end-of-life decisions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2003

BRIAN J. KELLY ,
FRANCIS T. VARGHESE  and
DAN PELUSI
BRIAN J. KELLY
Affiliation:
School of Medical Practice and Population Health, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, Australia
FRANCIS T. VARGHESE
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Department of Psychiatry, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
DAN PELUSI
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Department of Psychiatry, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
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Abstract

Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care, such as the request for assisted suicide, must be understood in the context of the relationship that exists between patients and the clinicians treating them. This context includes the way health professionals respond to the tasks in caring for a dying patient. This article reviews the literature exploring the factors the influence clinical decision making at the end of life. The interplay of ethics, countertransference and transference are explained in detail.

Keywords

CountertransferenceEthicsEnd-of-life caregivingPhysician-assisted suicide
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , December 2003 , pp. 367 - 375
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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