Perceptions And Challenges Of Healthcare Workers In Making Ethical Decisions Of Withholding And Withdrawing Life Support From Terminally Ill Patient In Tertiary Hospital, Mwanza Region- Northwestern Tanzania

Abstract Background: Making ethical decisions in Withholding and withdrawing life support measures from terminally ill patients are challenges in clinical practice. Still there is no consensus around the world. In Tanzania, there is neither guideline nor legal frameworks governing the practice.Methods: Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions and ethical challenges of healthcare workers in making ethical decisions of withholding and withdrawing life supportive measures from terminally ill patients.Results: A healthcare workers perceptions varies in decisions of withholding and withdrawing life supportive measures from terminally ill patients.Conclusions: Decisions of withholding and withdrawing life support measures from terminally ill patients face many challenges. Lack of legal and ethical framework to guide the practices inhibits the ethical decisions of physicians and nurses.