Poll: 48% Back Legalized Physician-Assisted Suicide
More than two-thirds of U.S. residents believe physicians should allow patients to die in certain cases, but less than half support legalization of physician-assisted suicide for patients with terminal illnesses, according to an Associated Press/Ipsos survey released on Tuesday, the AP/Detroit News reports.
According to the survey, 68% of respondents believe physicians and nurses should allow patients to die in certain cases, and 30% believe physicians and nurses should make every effort to save the lives of patients in all cases. The survey also found that 48% of respondents support legalization of assisted suicide for patients with terminal illnesses and that 44% oppose legalization of the practice.
The state of Oregon -- as well as Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands -- currently allows assisted suicide.
About 55% of respondents said they would not consider suicide in the event that they had a terminal illness, and 35% said they would consider suicide, according to the survey (Crary, AP/Detroit News, 5/30).