Physician-assisted dying: Acceptance by physicians only for patients close to death

Résumé

This study reports on German physicians' views on legalization of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, comparing this with a similar survey of UK doctors. A questionnaire was handed out to attendants of a palliative care and a pain symposium. Complete answers were obtained from 137 physicians. Similar to the UK study, about 30% of the physicians surveyed support euthanasia in case of terminal illness and more support physician-assisted suicide. In contrast, in both countries, a great majority of physicians oppose medical involvement in hastening death in non-terminal illnesses. The public and parliamentary discussion should face this opposition to assisted suicide by pain and palliative specialists. ALLEMAGNE EUROPE EUTHANASIE SUICIDE-ASSISTÉ ATTITUDE PERSONNEL-MÉDICAL FIN-DE-VIE SOIN-PALLIATIF SONDAGE