Would physician-assisted suicide jeopardize trust in the medical services? An empirical study of attitudes among the general public in Sweden

Abstract

We found no evidence for the assumption that trust in the medical services would be unambiguously jeopardized if physician-assisted suicide were to be legalized. Only among the minority who opposed physician-assisted suicide did a majority of respondents report that their trust would decrease.

Veterinary surgeons' attitudes towards physician-assisted suicide: an empirical study of Swedish experts on euthanasia

“…The proportions in favour of, against and undecided on physician-assisted suicide (PAS) among veterinary surgeons (present study), the general public5 and physicians4.…”

“…Vet, veterinary surgeons (present study); Pub, the general public5; Phys, physicians4.Values are % (95% CI).Only those reporting as undecided were allowed to prioritise either pro or contra arguments.…”

“…The questionnaire was similar to those used among physicians and the general public during spring 2007 4 5. It consisted of four parts: (1) the main question about attitude towards a physician prescribing a lethal dose of pharmaceuticals on a competent patient's request, given that certain criteria were met (see box 1); (2) arguments pro/contra PAS, among which respondents were asked to prioritise the most important one; (3) trust in the medical services if PAS should be allowed; (4) background variables.…”

“…A comparison is made with a similar study of the attitudes to PAS among the general public and physicians 4 5…”

“…We have studied veterinary surgeons' attitudes to PAS, using the same questionnaire as the one applied in similar studies on the attitudes of Swedish physicians and the general public 4 5. The aim was to study veterinary surgeons attitudes to PAS and to compare it with the attitudes of physicians and the general public.…”