Skip to the main content

Renewed Life : Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Vol. 75 No. 4, 2020.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.31337/oz.75.4.2

The understanding of dysthanasia and transhumanism from the nursing profession perspective

Terezija Gložinić orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-0219-756X ; Department of Nursing, Catholic University of Croatia
Odilon–Gbènoukpo Singbo orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-2154-8935 ; Chair of Theology, Catholic University of Croatia
Anto Čartolovni orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-9420-0887 ; Digital Healthcare Ethics Laboratory (Digit–HeaL), Catholic University of Croatia

Full text: croatian pdf 869 Kb

page 457-473

downloads: 1.004

cite

Abstract

This paper presents the research results from a quantitative research study about the attitudes of undergraduate nursing students at the Catholic University of Croatia. The primary aim of this study was to investigate attitudes regarding the practice of life prolongation, therapeutic persistence, i.e. dysthanasia, and how transhumanist ideas impact students’ lives and their (future) nursing profession. Furthermore, the research study aimed to inquire about general attitudes on death and life prolongation. One hundred sixty–four undergraduate students participated in this study, including both full–time and part–time students. The respondents were surveyed by means of a questionnaire specially designed to inquire into both of these topics. After analysis, the results showed significant differences in attitudes and in the understanding of the terms dysthanasia and transhumanism among the respondents with and without work experience, and among full–time and part–time students. Nevertheless, results demonstrated that having work experience does not impact one’s understanding of dysthanasia, and a greater knowledge of the transhumanist ideal does not decrease acceptance of transhumanist ideas. Probably the most interesting of our results points to the fact that work experience significantly contributes to the creation of a precautionary attitude towards new medical technologies.

Keywords

dysthanasia; transhumanism; euthanasia; vulnerability; nursing profession; life prolongation; technology

Hrčak ID:

243913

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/243913

Publication date:

7.10.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.651 *