GPs' views on changing the law on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, and willingness to prescribe or inject lethal drugs: a survey from Wales
Authors: Pasterfield, Diana1; Wilkinson, Clare1; Finlay, Ilora G.2; Neal, Richard D.1; Hulbert, Nicholas J.1
Source: British Journal of General Practice, Volume 56, Number 527, June 2006 , pp. 450-452(3)
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
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Abstract:
If physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia is legalised in the UK, this may be the work of GPs. In the absence of recent or comprehensive evidence about GPs' views on either legalisation or willingness to take part, a questionnaire survey of all Welsh GPs was conducted of whom 1202 (65%) responded. Seven hundred and fifty (62.4% of responders) and 671 (55.8% of responders) said that they did not favour a change in the law to allow physician-assisted suicide/voluntary euthanasia respectively. These data provide a rational basis for determining the position of primary care on this contentious issue.Keywords: EUTHANASIA; GENERAL PRACTICE; PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE
Document Type: Short communication
Affiliations: 1: Department of General Practice, North Wales Clinical School, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, Wrexham 2: Department of Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University Heath Park, Cardiff
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