VIEWS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE CONCERNING END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS

The aim of this study was to determine elders' views regarding the acc eptability of seven end-of-life decision options; existing research pr ovides only partial information. A total of 447 Black and White elders ages 60 to 100 years responded to 17 decision situations depicting co nditions with a low quality of life, rating acceptability of each deci sion option. Mean percentage lover 17 decision situations) of particip ants finding each decision option acceptable were: striving to live, 5 2%; refusing or withdrawing treatment 47%; letting someone close decid e, 36%; suicide, 7%; assisted suicide, 12%; voluntary euthanasia 12%; and allowing the physician to decide to end life, 19%. Views were rela ted to age, ethnicity, education, occupation, and religious affiliatio n using MANOVA analyses.