Legal and ethical themes emerging from interviews with doctors
| Main theme | Subthemes |
|---|---|
| Theoretical knowledge of ethics and the law | Is withdrawal ethical and legal |
| Is it unethical or illegal not to withdraw | |
| Under what circumstances is it legal and ethical to withdraw | |
| What if patient is not close to death | |
| Ethical and legal practice | Experience and knowledge |
| Discussions of ethics and the law with colleagues, patients and families, including disagreements. | |
| Palliation of symptoms—what is legal | |
| External scrutiny, the need to document practice and work in teams for legal security | |
| Protecting the family ethically, morally and legally | |
| Does withdrawal feel ethical and moral | Felt right |
| Felt uncomfortable or wrong | |
| Fear of misinterpretation as assisted death | |
| Ethical and moral burden | |
| Ethical and legal recommendations | Need for legal and ethical guidance |
| Need for professional education |