研究：醫生離世時更安詳

Doctors are less likely to die in hospital, have surgery or be admitted to intensive care, than the general public, new research has revealed.
一項新研究表明，比起普羅大衆，醫生死於醫院、接受手術，或接受重症監護的機率更低。

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.
多數人都希望能在家安詳地離開人世，但他們往往最終死於醫院，或在養老院離世。

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.
不過，近來一項研究表明，比起普羅大衆，醫生更有機會如自己所願的那樣安然離世。

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.
專家指出，醫生較少接受臨終陪護的原因之一，是他們在有生之年閱盡了病人和他們的家人在這方面所受的負擔和苦楚。

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，家庭安寧護理具有何種優勢，醫生也更心知肚明。而且，他們往往負擔得起高額陪護費。

The study examined whether doctors receive higher or lower intensity end-of-life treatments compared with non-physicians.
研究人員收集了醫生與非醫護人員的數據樣本，旨在比對兩者在臨終時接受的陪護情況。

They examined the medical records of people aged 66 or older who died between 2004 and 2011 in Massachusetts, Michigan, Utah and Vermont.
他們收集了馬薩諸塞、密歇根、猶他與佛蒙特四州2004至2011年66歲（含）以上人口的醫療記錄。

Researchers concluded doctors were less likely to die in a hospital compared with the general population - 28 percent versus 32 percent.
研究結論是，與普羅大衆相比，醫生死於醫院病榻的機率較小。前者達32%，後者爲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，醫生接受手術，或需接受重症監護的機率也更低，分別爲25%與26%。相較之下，普羅大衆的機率則達27%與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.'
研究人員寫道：“醫生較少接受臨終重症監護，或許因爲他們明白此舉徒勞無功，也可能因爲他們更偏愛，且負擔得起安寧護理、家庭陪護等其他方式。”

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.'
談到臨終陪護問題，傑奎琳·科利博士總結道：“人到晚年，還談什麼身份不身份的。如何走得安詳寧靜，纔是最值得關心的。”

That, she said is a view shared by many healthcare professionals.
她說，這一點，許多醫護人員都心知肚明。

Vocabulary

intensive care: 重症監護
palliative care: 安寧療護