Clinical Ethics > Volume 3, Number 1 > Pp. 27-33

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Empirical Ethics

Views regarding physician-assisted suicide: a study of medical professionals at various points in their training

Mark Kitching ^*  , Andrew James Stevens   and Louise Forman ^* 

^* Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Faculty of Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

E-mail: mark.kitching{at}doctors.org.uk

In this study, we sought to obtain detailed opinion on some of the practical issues that might arise should physician-assisted suicide (PAS) ever be legalized in the UK. We carried out an anonymous postal questionnaire of medical students, junior and senior doctors working at an acute hospital trust, over a three-week period. A total of 435 questionnaires were distributed and we had an overall return rate of 34%. We found that opinions changed very little as doctors progressed from medical school through to senior clinical positions. Overall, there was neutral opinion on whether PAS should be legalized. There was strong support for a multidisciplinary approach to the process and the involvement of the coroner. An opt-out clause for physicians who did not want to be involved in assisted suicide also received strong support.

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