Abstract

Physicians' attitudes about assisted suicide were assessed by using a vignette of an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients who requests a lethal injection. Of the 389 respondents, 34% received at least 1 request for assisted suicide; 9% had requests from an AIDS patient; and 41% had at least indirectly assisted a terminal patient to die in actual practice. Thirty-three percent of the respondents agreed to the authors' hypothetical patient's request for a lethal injection. Medical and personal experiences did not determine attitudes that were somewhat influenced by ethical beliefs and religious commitment. The study confirms previous findings that many physicians underestimate the effect of depressive illness on rational decision making concerning assisted suicide the effect of depressive illness on rational decision making concerning assisted suicide requests.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.