The physician-assisted suicide policy dilemma: A pilot study of the views and experiences of Connecticut physicians

Development of fully informed public policy regarding physician-assisted su icide (PAS) requires a thorough understanding of the experiences, attitudes , and beliefs of physicians with respect to this issue. This study gathered data on physician characteristics, attitudes toward PAS, factors influenci ng attitudes toward PAS, and sensitivity to the role of depression in a sam ple of 397 psychiatrists, internists, and family practitioners in Connectic ut. Central considerations included: the influence of religious values, pro fessional discipline and practice patterns, and ability to diagnose depress ion in a single evaluation. Psychiatrists were significantly more likely to be supportive of PAS than were internists or family practitioners. Most re spondents expressed concern regarding the influence of depression on PAS re quests. A subset of physicians endorse PAS yet do not share such concern ab out risks, suggesting substantial challenges for policymakers.