Decedents’ Reported Preferences for Physician-Assisted Death: a Survey of Informants Listed on Death Certificates in Utah

Individuals listed as informants on the death certificats of 1,144 decedents in Utah (18+ years of age), were interviewed. Deaths had occurred in 1992. This article reports on the acquisition & analysis of data. 16% of decedents reportedly would have wanted either physician-assisted suicide or euthansia. Informants reported a slightly higher rate. Religion, religiosity, type of illness, & certain life situations were found to be associated with a presumed desire for aid in dying. (18 Refs.)