Table 4 Distribution of respondents' answers to 13 statements in connection with end-of life decision-making*
Statements and answers | Number (%) |
|---|---|
Withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatment | |
1. Treatment procedures should not be initiated for people who are dying and who are experiencing extreme and unbearable suffering | |
Agree | 237 (19.7) |
Don't know | 303 (25.2) |
Disagree | 662 (55.1) |
2. People who are dying and who are experiencing extreme and unbearable suffering should have their wish to die granted, and no treatment procedures should be initiated that could extend their life | |
Agree | 458 (38.1) |
Don't know | 310 (25.7) |
Disagree | 435 (36.2) |
3. All treatment measures should be withdrawn from dying patients who are experiencing extreme and unbearable suffering | |
Agree | 174 (14.4) |
Don't know | 242 (20.1) |
Disagree | 787 (65.4) |
4. People who are dying and who are experiencing extreme and unbearable suffering should be granted their wish to die, and all treatment measures that could prolong their life withdrawn | |
Agree | 455 (37.8) |
Don't know | 302 (25.1) |
Disagree | 445 (37.0) |
5. Withholding treatment and "allowing" a patient to die should be regulated by law to avoid abuse | |
Agree | 927 (77.0) |
Don't know | 164 (13.7) |
Disagree | 112 (9.3) |
Euthanasia | |
6. Procedures in which a person is directly killed by a physician should be absolutely prohibited by law | |
Agree | 448 (37.2) |
Don't know | 296 (24.6) |
Disagree | 459 (38.2) |
7. People who are dying and who are experiencing extreme suffering should be granted their wish to die by a physician giving them a substance which will cause their death | |
Agree | 361 (30.0) |
Don't know | 321 (26.7) |
Disagree | 521 (43.3) |
8. Do you believe that physicians should be permitted by law to painlessly end the life of a patient who is suffering from an incurable illness, if the patient and the patient’s family ask for it? | |
Agree | 558 (46.4) |
Don't know | 205 (17.0) |
Disagree | 398 (33.1) |
Assisted suicide | |
9. People who are dying and who are experiencing extreme suffering should be granted their wish to die, and they should be enabled to end their own lives | |
Agree | 223 (18.6) |
Don't know | 290 (24.1) |
Disagree | 689 (57.3) |
10.Physician assisted suicide | |
Do you believe that physicians should be permitted by law to help a patient who is suffering from an incurable illness and is living with severe pain to end their own life, if the patient asks for it? | |
Agree | 483 (40.1) |
Don't know | 237 (19.7) |
Disagree | 430 (35.8) |
Patients’ rights and physicians’ obligations | |
11. A dying patient has the right to decide about the end of their own life | |
Agree | 620 (51.6) |
Don't know | 285 (23.7) |
Disagree | 297 (24.7) |
12. No one, not even the individual in question, has the right to decide about the moment of their death | |
Agree | 426 (35.4) |
Don't know | 314 (26.1) |
Disagree | 463 (38.5) |
13. Physicians are obliged to help a dying patient to realize their wish to die | |
Agree | 471 (39.1) |
Don't know | 343 (28.5) |
Disagree | 389 (32.3) |