Citation

Namal A. Nurs. Ethics 2003; 10(5): 497-503.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1191/0969733003ne631oa

PMID

14529116

Abstract

A Turkish patient with AIDS attempted to commit suicide. Turkey is one of the countries where AIDS education in society and for health personnel has started rather late. This article documents what this patient, his sister and his friends, who helped him to survive for a short while, experienced in the hospital environment. This is a real case history and should be considered from various aspects because suicide was attempted by a person with AIDS who was near the terminal stage. The patient's friends made a remarkable effort to help him to survive. They were unsure about what to do because they had not respected his wishes and they experienced deep alienation because of the extremely negative attitude of the medical staff.

Language: en

Keywords

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Health; Family; Fatal Outcome; Friends; Health Care and Public Health; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Informed Consent; Male; Personnel, Hospital; Prejudice; Professional Patient Relationship; Refusal to Treat; Social Values; Suicide; Terminal Care; Turkey