October 1, 2023
end of life issues

Most American doctors oppose physician-assisted suicide, according to NEJM poll

Michael Cook

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

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