Although some physicians question the modern-day relevancy of
some of the tenets of the ancient Hippocratic oath, one truth is
inescapable: medicine is a moral endeavor. Physicians all deal in
life and death, which often places them at the heart of medical and
moral debates. And doctor-assisted suicide is among the most
contentious issues that physicians around the world face.
Earlier this year*, Gallup asked Americans, Britons, and
Canadians whether they find doctor-assisted suicide morally
acceptable or morally wrong. Ironically, in the only nation of the
three in which assisted suicide is legal -- it is legal in the U.S.
state of Oregon -- respondents are significantly less likely than
those in the other two countries to find the issue morally
acceptable. Forty-five percent of Americans said that
doctor-assisted suicide is morally acceptable, compared with 58% of
Canadians and 55% of Britons.
American opinion on the morality of this issue is more split
than in the other two countries. Forty-nine percent of Americans
find doctor-assisted suicide morally wrong, while 36% of Canadians
and 26% of Britons share this point of view. Britons are more
likely than Americans or Canadians, however, to hinge the moral
acceptability of doctor-assisted suicide on the situation: 15% of
British respondents volunteered the response of "depends on the
situation" rather than choosing one answer or the other. Only 5% of
Americans and Canadians offer this response.
An "assisted dying" bill set forth in the House of Lords in
Great Britain may have been on the minds of some Britons who
responded to this question. The proposed bill would legalize
assisted suicide, but only under strict conditions and only in
cases in which there is unbearable suffering from a terminal or
incurable disease. The bill cleared its first hurdle in the House
of Lords in June and may be proposed before Parliament.
Morality of Suicide
At the crux of the doctor-assisted suicide debate is overall
opinion on the morality of ending one's own life. However,
majorities of Americans, Canadians, and Britons all believe that
suicide per se is morally wrong. Large majorities of
Americans (81%) and Canadians (73%) say suicide is morally wrong,
while a smaller majority of Britons (53%) feel that way. One
possible explanation for these differences may be that
doctor-assisted suicides may be seen as merciful and physician
involvement in the process implies some measure of propriety.
Bottom Line
Although major medical associations in the United States, Great
Britain, and Canada do not support doctor-assisted suicide, and it
is against the law in almost every nation in the world, the tide of
public opinion may be turning in some areas. The practice is now
legal in several European nations. If this trend continues, more
physicians around the world may find themselves facing this
difficult ethical dilemma, not in theory, but in their
practices.
*Results in the United States are based on telephone
interviews with 1,005 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted
May 5-7, 2003. For results based on the total sample of national
adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of
sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Results in Canada are based telephone interviews with 1,001
national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 11-17, 2003. For
results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say
with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is
±3 percentage points.
Results in Great Britain are based telephone interviews with
1,009 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 4-19,
2003. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one
can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling
error is ±5 percentage points.
Results for the Canada and Great Britain surveys may not equal
100% due to rounding error.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical
difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into
the findings of public opinion polls.
