Attitudes of Family Physicians in Washington State Toward Physician‐Assisted Suicide

摘要: Abstract: Context: The topic of physician-assisted suicide is difficult and controversial. With recent laws allowing physicians to assist in a terminally ill patient's under certain circumstances, the debate concerning appropriate ethical role for has intensified. Purpose: This paper utilizes data from 1997 survey family (FPs) Washington State test two hypotheses: (1) older respondents will indicate greater opposition than their younger colleagues, (2) male rural have more negative attitudes toward female urban counterparts. Methods: A questionnaire administered all active FPs obtained 68% response rate, with 1074 found be eligible this study. ZIP code system based on generalist Health Service Areas was used designate those practicing versus areas. Findings: One-fourth overall indicated support suicide. When asked whether practice should legalized, 39% said yes, 44% no, 18% that they did not know. Fifty-eight percent study sample reported would include practices even if it were legal. Responses disaggregated by age-groups closely paralleled group overall. There significant pattern part compared respondents. Even among reporting suicide, many expressed reluctance about including practices. Conclusions: These findings highlight systematic differences FP one aspect health care gender, rural-urban location, other factors.