Public support for euthansia for incurable illnesses

11/07/2007

Four out of five people in Britain say that the law should allow a doctor to end someone’s life at the person’s request if they have an incurable and painful illness from which they will die - although levels of public support drop when the patient has an illness that is not terminal. This information is part of the findings in the latest British Social Attitudes Report from the National Centre for Social Research. Elizabeth Clery, one of the authors of the report, commented: "The current law that prohibits assisted dying is clearly at odds with public opinion: most people accept that a doctor should be allowed to end the life of someone who is painfully and terminally ill."

Attitudes towards euthanasia vary greatly depending on who is involved and how assisted dying is administered. There are two main forms of assisted dying: voluntary euthanasia - ending a person’s life at their request; and assisted suicide - doctors giving someone lethal medication that allows them to take their own life. In the case of someone with an incurable and painful illness from which they will die, such as cancer, the majority are in favour of allowing a doctor to be involved, whereas only a minority support a relative being involved:

Interestingly, responses to the use of euthanasia vary according to a wider set of values. Religion makes a difference: people who regularly attend a religious service are far less likely to support euthanasia than people who never attend, and those who believe in the sanctity of life (those opposed to abortion, suicide and the death penalty) are more likely to be opposed to euthanasia.