Background: The purpose of the present study was to study the attitudes among Danish health care professionals likely to encounter ethical controversies of ART and related subjects.
Methods: Anonymous questionnaire study design. A total number of 993 were asked to participate from May-July 1994.
Results: There was a tendency towards a more liberal attitude among gynecologists than among nurses. There was a majority for legal abortion (before 12 weeks of gestation), for selective reduction in multiple pregnancies, and for donor anonymity. There was a majority against sex selection, artificial reproduction as to single women and lesbians, and against adoption by homosexuals. The multivariate analysis showed a strong correlation between attitude and background variables, especially as to religion and profession.
Conclusion: Religion and profession are determinants for the attitude towards several of the ethical controversies of ART and related subjects asked for in this study. We found a discrepancy between recommendations by the Ethical Council of Denmark and the attitudes among health care professionals.