Abstract
AimsTo examine attitudes towards physician-assisted suicide (PAS) among physicians in Sweden and compare these with the results from a similar cross-sectional study performed in 2007.ParticipantsA random selection of 250 physicians from each of six specialties (general practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, oncology, surgery and psychiatry) and all 127 palliative care physicians in Sweden were invited to participate in this study.SettingA postal questionnaire commissioned by the Swedish Medical Society in collaboration with Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.ResultsThe total response rate was 59.2%. Slightly fewer than half [47.1% (95% CI 43.7–50.5)] of the respondents from the six specialties accepted PAS, which is significantly more than accepted PAS in the 2007 study [34.9% (95% CI 31.5–38.3)]. Thirty-three percent of respondents were prepared to prescribe the needed drugs. When asked what would happen to the respondent’s own trust in healthcare, a majority [67.1% (95% CI 63.9–70.3)] stated that legalizing PAS would either not influence their own trust in healthcare, or that their trust would increase. This number is an increase compared to the 2007 survey, when just over half [51.9% (95% CI 48.0–55.2)] indicated that their own trust would either not be influenced, or would increase.ConclusionsThe study reveals a shift towards a more accepting attitude concerning PAS among physicians in Sweden. Only a minority of the respondents stated that they were against PAS, and a considerable proportion reported being prepared to prescribe the needed drugs for patient self-administration if PAS were legalized.
Highlights
In recent years, there has been a lively public debate about physician-assisted suicide (PAS) both internationally and in Sweden [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
934 responded, and 819 answered the long version of the questionnaire and 115 answered the short version, for an overall response rate of 59.2%
Main outcome Combining the six specialties, 47.1% of respondents would accept PAS, 33.2% would not accept PAS, and 19.7% were Undecided about PAS
Summary
There has been a lively public debate about physician-assisted suicide (PAS) both internationally and in Sweden [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. In Sweden, proponents of PAS have called for a parliamentary inquiry into its legalization, while opponents have highlighted risks and pitfalls. A number of patients from Sweden have travelled to Switzerland (where PAS is, in effect, legal) in order to end their lives through PAS. Several people who have been engaged in the public debate about legalizing PAS in Sweden have, in order to raise awareness about the issue, planned trips to Switzerland for the procedure [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: 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.
