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

    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.

    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. 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.

    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.

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

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

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

    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.

    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."

    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."

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

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

    重症监护

    zhòngzhèng jiānhù

    intensive care

    continuous and closely monitored health care that is provided to critically ill patients

    姑息的

    gūxī de

    palliative

    relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease without effecting a cure

    相比其他人 医生更多家中离世

    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。

    多数人都希望能在家安详离世，但他们往往最终死于医院，或在养老院离世。

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

    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及其家人在这方面所受的负担和苦楚。

    另外，在家接受保守治疗的好处，医生也更心知肚明。而且，他们往往负担得起高额陪护费。

    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。

    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。

    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%。

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

    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，且负担得起保守治疗、家庭陪护等其他方式。”

    谈到临终陪护问题，杰奎琳·科利博士总结道：“人难免一死。如何走得安详宁静，而非苟延残喘，才是值得重视的。”

    她说，这一点许多医护人员都心知肚明。