T. Nilstun et al., Surveys on attitudes to active euthanasia and the difficulty of drawing normative conclusions, SCAND J P H, 28(2), 2000, pp. 111-116
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health
Purpose: To present surveys on active euthanasia and to discuss what normat
ive conclusions can be drawn. Methods: Two summary articles and 30 recent s
urveys on attitudes to active euthanasia are discussed. Results. According
to the first summary article, acceptance of active euthanasia among the pub
lic has stabilized around 65%; according to the second, almost 60% of physi
cians are in favour of legalizing active euthanasia. As for the 30 recent s
urveys, physicians are most often respondents, while the general public is
surveyed in only three. The differences in attitudes are striking: 21-78% a
nswered that active euthanasia should be legalized, and 14-51% rejected thi
s idea. The core of the general problem of drawing normative conclusions fr
om empirical data is first addressed; then we discuss the principles of aut
onomy and beneficence, which are often referred to in arguments for and aga
inst euthanasia.