Most American doctors oppose physician-assisted suicide, according to NEJM poll
An on-line poll of readers of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the majority of American doctors are against physician-assisted suicide (PAS)
An on-line poll of readers of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the majority of American doctors are against physician-assisted suicide (PAS). (Presumably most readers of the NEJM are doctors.) Based on 5205 respondents from 72 countries, the poll showed that 67% of US readers opposed legalising PAS. In only 18 US states did a majority support the practice. Interestingly, this did not include Washington or Oregon, where PAS is already legal. Overall, 1712 readers cast votes in the US.
The main reasons provided for opposing the practice were that it violates a doctors’ oath to do no harm and that it would likely lead to the legalisation of euthanasia, a far less palatable practice.
Xavier Symons
Creative commons
assisted suicide
NEJM
US
Latest posts by Michael Cook (see all)
- Queensland legalises ‘assisted dying’ - September 19, 2021
- Is abortion a global public health emergency? - April 11, 2021
- Dutch doctors cleared to euthanise dementia patients who have advance directives - November 22, 2020
More Stories
Missouri man killed wife because he couldn’t afford her medical bills
A 75-year-old Missouri man has been charged with the murder of his wife after allegedly strangling her in a hospital bed because...
Ireland’s medical council gears up for legal assisted dying
In March, a committee of Ireland’s parliament recommended that “the Government introduce legislation allowing forassisted dying”. If this is approved,...
Texas doctor found guilty of poisoning patients
A Texas anaesthetist has been convicted on charges of injecting patients' IV bags with dangerous drugs, which led to the...
Ukrainian man sells suicide powders on the internet from a flat in Kyiv
A Ukrainian man from Kyiv has been sending parcels of suicide powder to the United Kingdom since at least 2020...
UK parliament report on ‘assisted dying’ refuses to take sides
A long-anticipated report from the British Parliament on “assisted dying” has not made any dramatic recommendations, to the dismay of supporters and...
Australia’s Northern Territory ponders ‘assisted dying’
The government of Australia’s Northern Territory is surveying residents to assess the scope of a voluntary assisted dying law. All states have...