Abstract
Attitudes of Terminally ill Cancer Patients About Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Predominance of Psychosocial Determinants and Beliefs Over…
Suarez-Almazor M E~~Newman C~~et al
The authors conducted a survey of 100 patients with terminal cancer in order to assess whether their attitudes about euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide (PAS) were determined by their symptomatic distress. Most patients (69%) supported euthanasia or PAS for one or more situations. The association between these attitudes & symptoms was weak. Agreement with euthanasia was significantly related to male sex, lack of religious beliefs, & general beliefs about the suffering of cancer patients & their families. Frequency of suicidal ideation was associated with poor well-being, depression, anxiety & shortness of breath. (32 refs)