Characteristics of Persons Approving of Physician-Assisted Death

ABSTRACT

The present study describes the characteristics and attitudes of non-terminally ill persons who support physician-assisted death (PAD) along with their expectations and preferences for care in the future. Participants (N = 101) completed a survey assessing current affect and attitudes and those expected if terminally ill. Participants’ responses indicated they were a well-adjusted group with little evidence of depressive symptoms or past suicidal ideation. Current attitudes were differentially related to future care preferences. Findings suggest a need for longitudinal research on the stability of current attitudes and how they relate to PAD among non-terminally ill supporters of assisted death.

Notes

Note. *p ≤ .01.

**p < .001.

^a A full correlation matrix of appropriate variables is available from Dean Blevins.