To determine whether the opinions of Alberta physicians about active euthanasia had changed and to assess the determinants of potential changes in opinion.
Follow-up survey (mailed questionnaire) of physicians included in the 1991 Alberta Euthanasia Survey.
Alberta.
Of the 1391 physicians who participated in the 1991 survey 1291 (93%) had indicated that they were willing to take part in a follow-up survey. A follow-up questionnaire was mailed in 1994 to 1146 physicians who could be traced through the 1994 Medical Directory of the provincial college of physicians and surgeons; 25 questionnaires were returned because they could not be delivered.
Physicians' opinions about (a) the morality of active euthanasia, (b) changes in the law to permit active euthanasia and (c) the practice of legalized euthanasia.
Of the 1121 physicians sent a follow-up questionnaire 866 (77%) returned it completed. The responses of these same 866 physicians in 1991 provided a basis for comparison. Of the 866, 360 (42%) stated in the 1994 survey that it is sometimes right to practise active euthanasia; a similar proportion (384 [44%]) gave this response in 1991. However, other opinions changed significantly. In 1991, 250 of the respondents (29%) indicated that they would practise active euthanasia if it were legalized, as compared with 128 (15%) in 1994 (p
Notes
Cites: CMAJ. 1993 Mar 15;148(6):1015-78292108
Cites: CMAJ. 1993 Apr 15;148(8):1293-78462050
Cites: CMAJ. 1993 May 1;148(9):1463-67682892
Cites: CMAJ. 1993 May 15;148(10):1699-7028485674
Cites: N Engl J Med. 1994 Jul 14;331(2):89-948208272