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U.K. PHYSICIANS'ATTITUDES TOWARD ACTIVE VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE

2002; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 26; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/074811802760139003

1091-7683

George E. Dickinson, Carol Lancaster, David Clark, Sam H. Ahmedzai, William Noble,

Patient Dignity and Privacy

A comparison of the views of geriatric medicine physicians and intensive care physicians in the United Kingdom on the topics of active voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide revealed rather different attitudes. Eighty percent of geriatricians, but only 52% of intensive care physicians, considered active voluntary euthanasia as never justified ethically. Gender and age did not play a major part in attitudinal differences of the respondents. If the variability of attitudes of these two medical specialties are anywhere near illustrative of other physicians in the United Kingdom, it would be difficult to formulate and implement laws and policies concerning euthanasia and assisted suicide. In addition, ample safeguards would be required to receive support from physicians regarding legalization.