Comparison of answers in the affirmative to questions relating to voluntary euthanasia (VE) % of yes (95% confidence interval)
| For all respondents | Doctors (n=366) | Nurses (n=145) | Victoria* (354) | NSW/ACT† (588) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do your colleagues practise VE? | 9 (1–17) | 0 | 51 | 52 |
| Is VE sometimes right? | 33 (28–38) | 23 (16–30) | 62 | 59 |
| Are you aware of the Netherlands' situation? | 80 (76–84) | 77 (70–84) | 49 | NA |
| Should the Netherlands situation be introduced here? | 26 (21–31) | 21 (14–28) | 59 | 59 |
| Should medical or nursing organisations approve VE? | 22 (18–26) | 15 (9–21) | 52‡ | 52‡ |
| Should the law be changed to allow VE? | 26 (21–31) | 14 (8–20) | 60 | 58 |
| Would you practise VE if it were legal? | 22 (18–26) | 14 (8–20) | 50 | 50 |
| Has a patient ever asked you to hasten his or her death? | 54 (49–59) | 53 (45–61) | 40 | 47 |
| Have you ever had a case in which a patient under your care expressed a desire for active euthanasia, but in the same case the family opposed that wish? | 20 (16–24) | 22 (15–29) | NA | NA |
| Of those who have been asked to hasten death | Doctors (n=195) | Nurses (n=75) | Victoria* (354) | NSW/ACT† (588) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Doctors surveyed in 1987 in Victoria, Australia (reference 10). | ||||
| †Doctors surveyed in 1993 in NSW/ACT, Australia (reference 11). | ||||
| NA: Not applicable. | ||||
| ‡The question asked was “Should your professional organisation approve VE”. | ||||
| Can you identify particular illnesses that may prompt patients to ask that their death be hastened? | 49 (42–56) | 56 (46–66) | NA | 80 |
| If a patient asks you to hasten his or her death, do you discuss what should be done with: | ||||
| A colleague | 82 (77–87) | 93 (87–99) | 67 | 75 |
| Other health care professional | 87 (82–92) | 95 (90–100) | 70 | 64 |
| A family member, relative or very close friend of the patient? | 90 (86–94) | 93 (87–99) | 75 | 79 |
| A religious counsellor? | 16 (11–21) | 28 (19–37) | 26 | 33 |
| Can patient's asking to hasten his or her death sometimes be rational? | 88 (83–92) | 85 (77–93) | 93 | 96 |