@article {Buiting267, author = {Hilde M Buiting and Dorly J H Deeg and Dirk L Knol and Jochen P Ziegelmann and H Roeline W Pasman and Guy A M Widdershoven and Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen}, title = {Older peoples{\textquoteright} attitudes towards euthanasia and an end-of-life pill in The Netherlands: 2001{\textendash}2009}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {267--273}, year = {2012}, doi = {10.1136/medethics-2011-100066}, publisher = {Institute of Medical Ethics}, abstract = {Introduction With an ageing population, end-of-life care is increasing in importance. The present work investigated characteristics and time trends of older peoples{\textquoteright} attitudes towards euthanasia and an end-of-life pill.Methods Three samples aged 64 years or older from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (N=1284 (2001), N=1303 (2005) and N=1245 (2008)) were studied. Respondents were asked whether they could imagine requesting their physician to end their life (euthanasia), or imagine asking for a pill to end their life if they became tired of living in the absence of a severe disease (end-of-life pill). Using logistic multivariable techniques, changes of attitudes over time and their association with demographic and health characteristics were assessed.Results The proportion of respondents with a positive attitude somewhat increased over time, but significantly only among the 64{\textendash}74 age group. For euthanasia, these percentages were 58\% (2001), 64\% (2005) and 70\% (2008) (OR of most recent versus earliest period (95\% CI): 1.30 (1.17 to 1.44)). For an end-of-life pill, these percentages were 31\% (2001), 33\% (2005) and 45\% (2008) (OR (95\% CI): 1.37 (1.23 to 1.52)). For the end-of-life pill, interaction between the most recent time period and age group was significant.Conclusions An increasing proportion of older people reported that they could imagine desiring euthanasia or an end-of-life pill. This may imply an increased interest in deciding about your own life and stresses the importance to take older peoples{\textquoteright} wishes seriously.}, issn = {0306-6800}, URL = {https://jme.bmj.com/content/38/5/267}, eprint = {https://jme.bmj.com/content/38/5/267.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Medical Ethics} }