Americans Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002.pdf
0 likes14 views
This article summarizes research on Americans' attitudes toward euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide from 1936 to 2002. Public opinion polls over this period found that Americans consistently support having the freedom to end one's life with or without a physician's help when quality of life is significantly diminished. However, existing policies conflict with these views. The article reviews definitions, religious perspectives, historical context, factors influencing public opinion like medical advances and political events, previous research findings, and implications for social workers assisting clients with end-of-life decisions.
Americans Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002.pdf
- 1. The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare Volume 33 Issue 2 June Article 2 2006 Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002 Suicide, 1936-2002 Jen Allen Arizona State University Sonia Chavez Arizona State University Sara DeSimone Arizona State University Debbie Howard Arizona State University Keadron Johnson Arizona State University See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw Part of the Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Palliative Care Commons, and the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Allen, Jen; Chavez, Sonia; DeSimone, Sara; Howard, Debbie; Johnson, Keadron; LaPierr, Lucinda; Montero, Darrel; and Sanders, Jerry (2006) "Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 33 : Iss. 2 , Article 2. Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol33/iss2/2 This Article is brought to you by the Western Michigan University School of Social Work. For more information, please contact [email protected].
- 2. Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002 1936-2002 Authors Authors Jen Allen, Sonia Chavez, Sara DeSimone, Debbie Howard, Keadron Johnson, Lucinda LaPierr, Darrel Montero, and Jerry Sanders This article is available in The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol33/ iss2/2
- 3. Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002 JEN ALLEN, SONIA CHAVEZ, SARA DESIMONE, DEBBIE HOWARD, KEADRON JOHNSON, LUCINDA LAPIERRE, DARREL MONTERO, AND JERRY SANDERS Arizona State University Publicopinion polls conductedfrom 1936 to 2002 found thatAmericans supportboth euthanasiaandphysician-as- sisted suicide.Although publicopinion regardingend-of- life decisionsappearsto have been influenced by theevents ofthe times, Americanshave consistentlyfavored thefree- dom to end one's life when the perceivedquality oflife has significantlydiminished,eitherby one'sown handorwith the assistanceofa physician.This paperindicatesthatex- istingpolicy regardingeuthanasiaandphysician-assisted suicide conflicts with the American public's attitudesre- gardingthe matter,as well as examines implicationsfor socialworkerswhoserveclientsfacingend-of-life decisions. Keywords: euthanasia,end-of-life decisions,physician- assistedsuicide,deathand dying issues The concept of euthanasia inevitably provokes a moral dilemma for many Americans, because euthanasia gives in- dividuals the freedom to choose whether to live or die. This article examines the opinions of a cross-section of the American public concerning the ethics of death and dying, attitudes toward euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, and a pa- tient's right to forego life-sustaining treatment. Before we in- terpret the results of studies on these issues, we briefly present definitions, discuss religious perspectives, and examine the history of euthanasia. Euthanasia has been debated for many centuries. Two factors that have contributed to euthanasia's prominence in Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, June 2006, Volume XXXIII, Number 2 5
- 4. 6 Journal of Sociology &Social Welfare modern culture are both an increasing sense of self-determin- ism and medical innovations that have the potential of sub- stantially prolonging human life (Loewy & Loewy, 2000). Our findings indicate that existing policy regarding euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide unquestionably contradict the American public's attitudes regarding the matter. To clarify essential terms, "passive euthanasia" is the withholding or withdrawal of artificial life support or other medical treatment and allowing a patient to die. "Physician- assisted suicide" refers to a physician's provision of the means (such as medication or other interventions) of suicide to a competent patient who is capable of carrying out the chosen intervention. With "active voluntary euthanasia," a physician administers a lethal dose of medication to a competent person who explicitly requests it. "Involuntary euthanasia" involves the intentional administration of medication or other interven- tions to cause a competent person's death, without informed consent or an explicit request. "Non-voluntary euthanasia" in- volves ending the life of an unwilling individual (i.e., a death sentence) or mentally incompetent person who is unaware of what is happening (Csikai, 1999). The decision to end life in the ways that the first two terms imply is often based on the judgment of disproportionate burden, that is, the judgment that treatment will be useless, cause the patient more pain and suffering, or not restore the patient to an acceptable quality of life (Vose & Nelson, 1999). Literature Review Religion and Culture As Miller, Hedlund, and Murphy (1998) note, euthana- sia is a significant factor in the religious beliefs and spiritual values of people worldwide. However, various cultures and religions view euthanasia and assisted suicide differently. The ancient Greeks believed it was morally acceptable to end one's life if one no longer considered one's life to be worthwhile (Snyder, 2001). This belief is similar to that of the Irish culture, in which death is often the most celebrated experience of the life cycle (Miller et al., 1998). Christians also have a wide range of perspectives on eu-
- 5. Attitudes TowardEuthanasia 7 thanasia. Some believe that it is acceptable to advocate for eu- thanasia, whereas others oppose the idea that individuals can choose to die (Darr, 2002). According to traditional Christian philosophy, euthanasia was considered immoral until recently and was universally condemned in all societies with Christian traditions. This philosophy held that even what may be con- sidered a worthy end (i.e., the termination of pain and suf- fering) never justifies immoral or unethical means (Thorton, 1997). Some Catholics have argued that there is no moral dif- ference between allowing someone to die and causing death by interfering with the biological process since the end result is the same (Heifetz, 1992). Similarly, Muslims believe that only Allah has the right to end life; both Hindus and Buddhists teach respect for life and the belief that euthanasia is an inter- ruption of karma; Jews and Christians base their objections on the Biblical commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." Despite religion's deep traditional opposition to eu- thanasia, some exceptions have been allowed. For example, in 1957 Pope Pius XII stated that if a patient is hopelessly ill, a physician may discontinue heroic measures, and, if the patient is unconscious, relatives may request the withdrawal of life support (Snyder, 2001). Similarly, many Protestants believe there is a choice in the matter, and some Jews believe that the withdrawal of artificial life support is permissible and that the patient's wishes are of primary importance (Darr, 2002). Physiciansand Organizations A number of physicians oppose the practice of eutha- nasia and, instead, advocate pain-management techniques. Orr (2001) proposes that effective end-of-life care is an alterna- tive to euthanasia and argues that patients who receive quality end-of-life care rarely request that their lives be ended. Despite this compelling argument, the literature suggests that some pa- tients may still prefer their right to choose death. For example, Keown (2002) details the case of Ms. B, a quadriplegic who was denied the right to withdraw the assistance of her ventila- tor, who sued the hospital for unlawful treatment and won the right to end her life. The Hemlock Society advocates the legalization of eu- thanasia (Snyder,2001). This organization believes that the final
- 6. 8 Journal of Sociology &Social Welfare decision to terminate life ultimately is one's own, although it does not encourage suicide for emotional, traumatic, or finan- cial reasons, or in the absence of terminal illness. Conversely, the National Hospice Organization supports a patient's right to choose, but believes that hospice care is a better choice than euthanasia or assisted suicide (Snyder, 2001). PoliticalFactors The moral and political dilemmas of euthanasia date back to at least 400 B.C., with the Hippocratic Oath which states, "I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel." Condemnations of euthanasia have additionally existed in English Common Law for over 700 years (Sarton, 1952). However, assisted suicide gained in- creasing public support beginning in the 1900s, a growth that was later dashed when reports of forced euthanasia in Nazi Germany surfaced. In these cases, adults and children who demonstrated symptoms of mental retardation, physical de- formity, or other "inferiorities" were deemed "life unworthy of life" (Finkel, Hurabiell, & Hughes, 1993; Rbder, Kubillus, & Burwell, 1995). In the United States, euthanasia became a contested issue early in the 2 0 th century. In 1906, the first bill to legalize voluntary euthanasia was introduced in the Ohio legislature but failed to pass. However, in 1914, the common-law right to self-determination gave individuals the right to refuse or stop treatment (McCormack, 1998). In 1936, the Gallup Organization administered its first nationwide survey on the subject and found that about half the American population favored mercy deaths under governmental supervision (Worsnop, 1997). Politically, a myriad of reasons have been offered to support the right to die: the preservation of dignity,privacy,au- tonomy, self-determination, the liberty interests of the Fourth Amendment, and the reduction of degradation (Finkel et al., 1993). Although the judicial system has labeled euthanasia a crime, both the courts and the medical community seem well aware that a slippery slope exists between passive and active euthanasia. For example, whereas "pulling the plug" under the right circumstances has been viewed as passive euthanasia, ending artificial nutrition (removing a G-tube) has been linked
- 7. AttitudesToward Euthanasia 9 to "intentional killings" (Finkel et al., 1993). In addition, it has been suggested that there is more controversy surrounding active euthanasia than passive euthanasia because individuals are inclined to view removing treatment as worse than omit- ting treatment, thus favoring probable death associated with passive euthanasia over certain death associated with active euthanasia (Begley, 1998). In 1991, Congress enacted the Patient Self-Determination Act, requiring all federally funded hospitals to advise patients about advance directives, living wills, and power-of-attorney declarations. This requirement has not been construed as a federal endorsement of euthanasia but, rather, as the provision of insights into a patient's wishes if the patient becomes in- competent or comatose. It was perhaps not until 1990 that euthanasia became an issue of keen national debate, largely because of media at- tention generated by Dr. Jack Kevorkian (Csikai, 1999). On June 4, 1990, Jane Adkins, an Oregon woman in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, killed herself with the help of a suicide machine devised by Kevorkian. Kevorkian faced murder charges stemming from his involvement in this situ- ation, but the charges were subsequently dropped. In 1995, Oregon legalized the practice of euthanasia in response to a referendum it held in 1990. However, the practice was quickly made illegal after the law was challenged. The challenge is cur- rently pending (Webb, 2000). Soon after, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a person whose wishes were clearly known (i.e., had a "living will") has the right to refuse life-support treatment. Many states, for example, now permit living wills, surrogate healthcare deci- sion-making, and the withdrawal or refusal of life-sustaining medical treatment (Balch, 2001). The legal controversy regard- ing physicians' involvement in their patients' end-of-life deci- sions touches people of all ages. PreviousResearch According to a study of the opinions of high school students, physician-assisted suicides that are thoroughly dis- cussed with the patients are deemed more moral, acceptable, and "legal" than are assisted suicides that are merely accepted
- 8. 10 Journal of Sociology &Social Welfare or actively encouraged by physicians. Also, the presence of both physical and mental pain in a patient makes the patient's death more acceptable (Kaplan & Bratman, 1999). Wooddell and Kaplan (1999) found that the interaction among the phy- sician, patient, and, to a lesser extent, the active and passive nature of the agent of death were more important than were a physician's actual actions in allowing or causing death to occur. It is interesting that the respondents tended to view the death of patients of the opposite gender as more acceptable than that of patients of the same gender. Lachenmeier, Kaplan, and Caragacianu (1999) found that adults held similar views regarding euthanasia. That is, 6 in 10 adults would consider physician-assisted suicide if they were on life support or experiencing chronic pain; 50% would do so if they experienced a loss of mobility or independence, became a burden to others, or were diagnosed with a termi- nal disease; and 3 in 10 would do so if they were confined to a nursing home. Interestingly, the highest support for physi- cian-assisted suicide occurred among Caucasian men, aged 50-55, who had some college education, had yearly incomes of $35,000-$60,000, and were Democrats, Protestants, and infre- quent church attendees. As euthanasia is examined from a variety of different standpoints, the patients' personal convictions must be con- sidered. Physicians were asked why they thought patients request assistance to die. Their responses fell into the follow- ing categories: fear of uncontrollable symptoms (52%), actual pain (50%), loss of meaning of life (47%), loss of dignity (43%), being a burden (34%), and dependence (30%) (Stauch, 2000). Bioethics In 1997, the Institute of Medicine convened a panel to specifically examine questions related to end-of-life issues within the context of cultural diversity. Over the past three decades, end-of-life decision-making has been a focus of the field of bioethics. According to Field and Cassel's (1997) Institute of Medicine report, American medicine has failed to recognize the existence of the dying patient and has assumed that death is a medical problem that can be resolved using current technologies. The consideration of cultural differences
- 9. Attitudes Toward Euthanasia 11 in bioethical practices surrounding death is an important area of inquiry because decision-making on end-of-life issues is made more complex by the diversity of the professionals and staff workers in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes. According to Field and Cassel (1997), end-of-life deci- sions are based on an orientation to the future and openness about discussing death, cultural conceptions of personhood and the self, the location of an individual within a social group, and feelings of appropriate behavior by healers. A potential patient for the limitation or withdrawal of unwanted therapy generally displays the following characteristics: (1) a clear un- derstanding of the illness, prognosis, and treatment options that is shared with the members of the healthcare team; (2) a temporal orientation to the future and a desire to maintain "control" into that future; (3) the perception of freedom of choice; (4) a willingness to discuss the prospect of death and dying openly; (5) a balance between fatalism and a belief in human capacity that favors the latter; (6) a religious orienta- tion that minimizes the likelihood of divine intervention (or other "miracles"); and (7) an assumption that the individual, rather than the family or other social group, is the appropriate decision maker (Field & Cassel, 1997). Ideally, healthcare pro- viders offer patients choices regarding end-of-life decisions, rather than dictate answers, after they present information or scientific facts about the patient's prognoses. Since every end- of-life situation is unique, it is difficult for a scientific article such as this to discuss "ethics" in the broad sweep, considering that family, physicians, personal wishes, and religion all play a role in each individual's situation. Method The findings of this paper are based upon published public opinion polls from the Gallup Organization and Public Opinion Quarterly.Polling organizations use similar sampling techniques. For example, the standard Gallup sample consists of 1,000 face-to-face and telephone interviews. The sample design for face-to-face surveys is a replicated area-probability sample that selects subjects based on demographics from the block level in urban areas and segments of townships in rural
- 10. 12 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare areas. After stratifying the nation geographically and by the size of the community, according to information derived from the most recent census, more than 350 different sampling lo- cations are selected on a mathematically random basis from within cities, towns, and counties that have, in turn, been se- lected on a mathematically random basis. A more detailed discussion of this sampling procedure can be found in Gallup Organization (1996). The Study Questions This article further evaluates Americans' attitudes toward euthanasia by examining the following questions: What are Americans' attitudes toward voluntary euthanasia, physi- cian-assisted suicide, foregoing life-sustaining treatment, and end-of-life decisions? The answers to these questions should reflect the change in public sentiment toward euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide over the past 8 decades. Findings Attitudes towardvoluntary euthanasia As a social issue, euthanasia has generated both intense public debate and ever-changing public policy. From 1936 to 2002, a cross-section of the American public was asked the fol- lowing question (see Table 1): "When a person has a disease that cannot be cured, do you think doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient's life by some painless means if the patient and his family request it?" From 1936 to 2002, the number of Americans who supported voluntary euthanasia varied, but overall, support increased. From 1936 to 1950, voluntary euthanasia was sup- ported by less than a majority of Americans, perhaps because of the atrocities of World War II (Finkel et al., 1993). However, after 1950, support for euthanasia rose to over a majority and has maintained this level of support to the present. From 1973 to 2002, a consistent majority of those polled supported vol- untary euthanasia, perhaps because many Americans' politi- cal and moral beliefs were influenced by both a generally pro- euthanasia media as well as public statements on end-of-life matters by significant religious leaders, most notably Pope
- 11. Attitudes Toward Euthanasia 13 Pius XI's 1957 proclamation. Another possible explanation for the increase in support for voluntary euthanasia was the prominence of the Kevorkian case (Gillespie, 1999). Table 1 Attitudes Toward Voluntary Euthanasia,1936-2002a Year Yes No No Opinion 1936 46 54 0 1939 46 54 0 1947 37 54 9 1950 36 64 0 1973 53 NA NA 1977 60 36 4 1978 58 38 4 1980 65 NA NA 1982 61 34 5 1983 63 33 4 1985 64 33 3 1986 66 31 4 1986 75 NA NA 1986 69 NA NA 1988 66 29 5 1989 66 30 4 1990 69 26 5 1991 70 25 5 1997 58 37 5 1997 57 33 8 1998 59 39 2 1999 61 35 4 2001 65 NA NA 2002 72 NA NA Question: "When a person has a disease that cannot be cured, do you think doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient's life by some painless means if the patient and his family request it?" aData reported twice in one year indicate that the question was asked twice in that year. Figures may not total 100% because of rounding. Source: Poll data compiled by Benson (1999), Blizzard (2002), Gallup (1972a, 1972b), Gillespie (1999).
- 12. 14 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare The personal stories of the individuals whose lives Kevorkian helped to end may have served to increase sympathy for eu- thanasia, and this national attention may have prompted many Americans to reexamine and perhaps alter their views on eu- thanasia. For example, Dutch citizens have widely accepted voluntary euthanasia, and the Dutch government legalized the practice in 2002 (Blizzard, 2002). Attitudes towardphysician-assistedsuicide From 1990 to 1998, a cross-section of the American public was asked the following question (see Table 2): "If a person has a disease that will ultimately destroy their mind or body and they want to take their own life, should a doctor be allowed to assist the person in taking their own life, or not?" Table 2 Attitudes Toward Physician-AssistedSuicide, 1990-19984 Year Should Be Should Not No Allowed Be Allowed Opinion 1990 51 44 5 1991 53 39 9 1993 50 47 3 1993 58 36 6 1998 52 44 4 1998 52 37 11 Question: "If a person has a disease that will ultimately destroy their mind or body and they want to take their own life, should a doctor be allowed to assist the person in taking their own life, or not?" IData reported twice in one year indicate that the ques- tion was asked twice in that year. Figures may not total 100% because of rounding. Trend data are not available before 1990. Source: Poll data compiled by Benson (1999). Recently, the debate has been whether the right to self-determi- nation is the right to die, as well as the right to death through physician-assisted suicide. Stemming from this debate is the
- 13. Attitudes Toward Euthanasia 15 belief that because no difference existsbetween letting someone die and killing him/her, patients must have the right to refuse or to receive treatment that would prolong their lives (VanZyl, 2000). Physician-assisted suicide is viewed as one of the most controversial types of euthanasia because it violates the Hippocratic Oath. Physician-assisted suicide literally means that the physician provides the means (i.e., medication) for suicide to a competent patient who is capable of carrying it out. Attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide were remark- ably consistent during the period under study with only slight variation. During these years, those who agreed that physi- cian-assisted suicide should be allowed were invariably in the majority. Attitudes towardforegoing life-sustainingtreatment. From 1973 to 1991, a cross-section of the American public was asked the following question (see Table 3): "All doctors take an oath saying they will maintain, restore, and prolong human life in their treatment of patients. It is now argued by some people that in many cases people with termi- nal diseases (those that can end only in death) have their lives prolonged unnecessarily, making them endure much pain and suffering for no real reason. Do you think a patient with a ter- minal disease ought to be able to tell his doctor to let him die rather than to extend his life when no cure is in sight, or do you think this is wrong?" (Benson, 1999). From 1973 to 1991, the proportion of individuals who agreed that patients with terminal diseases should be allowed to forego life-sustaining treatment ranged from 62% to 85%. A possible explanation may be that more people than ever were suffering from painful terminal illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS, and more people were aware of how much suffering those with terminal diseases endured. A possible reason for the steady increase in support for eu- thanasia from 6 in 10 to 8 in 10 by 1991 is that medical tech- nology had improved dramatically and Americans reasoned there was less need for euthanasia, as it would likely only occur in rare circumstances when a patient was truly terminal.
- 14. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare Table 3 Attitudes TowardForgoingLife-SustainingTreatment, 1973-1991a Year Let Die Wrong Not Sure 1973 62 28 10 1977 71 18 11 1981 78 19 3 1982 68 20 11 1985 85 13 2 1987 84 13 3 1991 81 8 11 Question: "All doctors take an oath saying they will maintain, restore, and prolong human life in their treat- ment of patients. It is now argued by some people that in many cases people with terminal diseases (those which can only end in death) have their lives prolonged unnecessar- ily, making them endure much pain and suffering for no real reason. Do you think a patient with a terminal disease ought to be able to tell his doctor to let him die rather than to extend his life when no cure is in sight, or do you think this is wrong?" 3Figures may not total 100% because of rounding. Source: Poll data compiled by Benson (1999). Attitudes toward end-of-life decisions With the graying of the baby-boom generation, end-of- life decisions are likely to remain a public issue for many years to come (Benson, 1999). A key component in any shift in public policy toward end-of-life decisions is how Americans perceive death. Between 1977 and 1998, a cross-section of the American public was asked the following question (see Table 4): "Do you think a person has the right to end his or her own life if this person has an incurable disease?" By 1998, over 6 in 10 respondents believed that a person had a right to end his or her life if that person had an incurable disease (Benson, 1999). Consistent with these findings, from 1977 to 1998, support for euthanasia in the case of terminal
- 15. Attitudes TowardEuthanasia 17 illness was favorably reported in the media and the political arena (Benson, 1999). Taken as a whole, the trend data show a growth of support for various consensual practices that result in the death of terminally ill patients. One third to nearly two thirds of Americans have supported some form of end-of-life deci- sion. Overall, since 1986, a majority of Americans believed that euthanasia should be allowed when a person has an incurable disease. Table 4 Attitudes Toward End-of-Life Decisions,1977-1998a Year Should Be Should Not Don't Know Allowed Be Allowed 1977 38 59 3 1978 38 58 3 1982 45 50 5 1983 48 48 4 1985 44 53 3 1986 52 45 3 1988 50 46 4 1989 47 49 5 1990 56 38 6 1991 57 40 3 1993 57 39 5 1994 62 34 5 1996 61 34 5 1998 61 35 5 Question: "Do you think a person has the right to end his or her own life if this person.. .has an incurable disease?" aFigures may not total 100% because of rounding. Source: Poll data compiled by Benson (1999). Discussion This examination of national poll data on the American public's attitudes toward euthanasia has revealed some strik- ing trends. As Table 1 indicates, from 1936 to 1950, ony 4 in 10 Americans believed that voluntary euthanasia should be
- 16. 18 Journal of Sociology &Social Welfare allowed for an individual with an incurable disease, even if the patient and the family requested it. Although we report data from 1936 to 2002, it was not until 1973 that fully a majority of Americans supported euthanasia. From 1973 to 2002, the percentage of people who sup- ported voluntary euthanasia varied, but overall support in- creased from over one half to fully three fourths of Americans surveyed. The concern about voluntary euthanasia, height- ened by the events of World War II, may have led to opposition of euthanasia from 1936 to 1950. As is evident in Table 2, from 1990 to 1998, a consistent majority of respondents accepted physician-assisted suicide. Furthermore, as Table 3 indicates, from 1973 to 1991, during this period foregoing life-sustain- ing treatment became the most acceptable form of euthanasia. The acceptance of this course of action increased from 6 in 10 to fully 8 in 10 Americans. These findings dovetail neatly with the findings in Table 4, showing that from 1977 to 1998, an increasing proportion of Americans thought that life-and- death decisions should be allowed. This cross-section of the American public's views regarding euthanasia is at odds with current official policies regarding the matter: contemporary at- titudes grow increasingly pro-euthanasia, while policy on the issue is not evolving to permit euthanasia as a legal practice. Over 50 years ago, opinions on life and death decisions were more closely aligned with official policy on the issue. In recent years, however, our findings indicate that official policy has not caught up with the growing pro-euthanasia views report- ed in public opinion polls. In addition, a 1999 Gallup poll showed that 61% of Americans believed that physicians should be allowed to help terminally ill patients in severe pain commit suicide. These results were consistent with those of Gallup polls over the pre- vious two years, in which 6 in 10 Americans approved of the concept of physician-assisted suicide (Gillespie, 1999). Many may speculate about the reasons for these statistics. One ex- planation could be the increase in education and awareness of advances in both medical technology and research on various chronic diseases. Americans are also more aware of the devas- tating psychological effects of disease on a person's overall well being; therefore, they may be more willing to make informed
- 17. Attitudes Toward Euthanasia 19 decisions on end-of-life care. With this new knowledge, they may emphasize that sometimes the best option for a terminally ill patient is physician-assisted suicide or some other form of euthanasia. Americans are far more reluctant to consider the idea of suicide as a way to end the pain of a terminal illness. Only 40% of those polled said they would consider committing suicide if they were terminally ill. On the other hand, 52% of those who were questioned approved of Kevorkian's involvement with the death of a Michigan man (Gillespie, 1999); of those who supported Kevorkian, 63% considered themselves liberal while 39% considered themselves conservative. In line with this more recent poll, Americans who re- ported that physician-assisted suicide should be legal rose from 37% in 1947 to 61% in 1999 (Benson, 1999). Yet, the 1999 survey showed that fewer people would choose that course for themselves. An equal proportion (40%) said they would consider suicide if they were dying and in great pain and, in addition, they would help a terminally ill family member kill himself or herself (Benson, 1999). Implications Social workers face many ethical dilemmas concerning euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide and should be fa- miliar with the social problems and concepts related to both, as well as shift in public opinion over time. If the number of in- dividuals who believe that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is acceptable is increasing, it is likely that the number of cases of end-of-life decisions that social workers will en- counter will also increase. Respect for personal choices and individual differences is the most important issue for social workers to keep in mind when their clients and clients' fami- lies are making decisions in regard to euthanasia. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) provides an ethical framework for the dilemmas a social worker may face based on the core values of service, social justice, dignity and self-worth, importance of human rela- tionships, integrity, and competence. According to the Code of Ethics (NASW, 1999, section 6.01), social workers "should advocate for living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of
- 18. 20 Journal of Sociology &Social Welfare basic human needs." Therefore, from an ethical standpoint, social workers should be prepared to give patients informa- tion about pain-management techniques. In addition, they can provide assistance for terminally ill patients by helping them recognize the meaning of life and that they have control over the circumstances related to death and the commemoration to follow. As the NASW (1999) advises, social workers can be influential in informing the general population about end-of- life decisions by thinking the decisions through with them and helping their clients prepare advanced directives. America's diverse ethnic groups confront death and dying in markedly different ways. Because of this lack of a single approach to un- derstanding and dealing with death (Rosenblatt, 1993), social workers must then approach each individual case with a fresh perspective. Educating patients on their available choices en- hances their capacity to address their own needs when they suffer from a life-threatening illness. Furthermore, although the NASW policy statement, "Client Self-Determination in End-of-Life Decisions," observes that social workers may counsel terminally ill clients regarding physician-assisted suicide, this policy is in conflict with most state laws that prohibit social workers from advising their clients in this matter. This policy statement does not provide guidance on when social workers should become involved or under what circumstances and for how long they should in- tervene in cases involving terminal illness. The policy also ne- glects to mention that providing advice on physician-assisted suicide constitutes an offense as defined in most state laws. Because laws regarding physician-assisted suicide change so frequently, it is critical that social workers be aware of the current state legislation (Manetta &Wells, 2001). This difference in policies and practices may complicate the work of conscien- tious social workers, since social workers can expect situations to arise for which the law does not provide clarity or leeway (Keigher, 2001). Moreover, the NASW policy statement does not provide guidance regarding the conditions under which a social worker should become involved with a terminally ill client. Some practice techniques indicate that social workers should be cognizant of the fact that empathy is a critical tool
- 19. Attitudes TowardEuthanasia 21 in dealing with clients who are confronted with the moral dilemma of euthanasia, which opens up such issues as human rights, familial responsibility, and moral decency (Leichtentritt & Rettig, 1999, 2001). Furthermore, they should be aware that end-of-life decisions affect all populations. Active communi- cation among fellow professionals will facilitate the develop- ment of more effective and useful policies on this issue. This communication will also help to ensure that clients' values are respected and that decisions concerning life and death are made responsibly. References Balch, B. J. (2001). Commentary: Case points up urgency of will to live. NRLC DepartmentofMedicalEthics. Retrieved November 19, 2001, from http://www.nrlc.org/euthanasiawilltolive/ wtlcasepoints.html. Begley,A. (1998, October). Acts, omissions, intentions, and motives: A philosophical examination of the moral distinction between killing and letting die. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28(4), 865-873. Benson, J. M. (1999). The polls-trends. End of life issues. PublicOpinion Quarterly,63, 263-277. Blizzard, R. (2002, June 25). Right to die or dead to rights? The Gallup Organization.Retrieved October 10, 2002, from http: / /www. gallup.com/poll/tb /healthcare/20020625.asp?Version=p Csikai, E. L. (1999). Euthanasia and assisted suicide: Issues for social work practice. Journalof GerontologicalSocial Work, 31(3/4), 49-63. Darr, K. (2002, Winter). Cultural, ethic, and religious diversity in service delivery. HospitalTopics, 80(1), 29-34. Field, M. J., & Cassel, C. K. (Ed.). (1997). Approachingdeath: Improving careat the end of life. New York: Institute of Medicine. Finkel, N. J., Hurabiell, M. L., & Hughes, K. C. (1993). Right to die, euthanasia, and community sentiment: Crossing the public/ private boundary. Law and Human Behavior,17(1), 487-497. Gallup, G. H. (1972a), The GallupPoll:Publicopinion1935-1971:Volume 1, 1935-1948. New York: Random House. Gallup, G. H. (1972b), The Gallup Poll: Public opinion 1935-1971: Volume 2, 1949-1958. New York: Random House. Gallup Organization. (1996, January). Design of the sample: Poll topics and trends. Retrieved February 2, 2004, from http:// www.gallup.com/poll/topics/confidence.asp
- 20. 22 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare Gillespie, M. (1999). Kevorkian to face murder charges. The Gallup Organization. Retrieved September 2, 2001, from http:// www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr990319.asp Heifetz, M. D. (1992). Easiersaid than done: Moral decisions in medical uncertainty.Buffalo, NY: Prometheus. Kaplan, K. J., & Bratman, E. (1999). Gender, pain, and doctor involvement: High school student attitudes toward doctor- assisted suicide. Omega, 40(1), 27-41. Keigher, S. M. (2001, August). Clinical ethics, living, and dying: New challenges for changing times. Health & Social Work, 26(3), 131-135. Keown, J. (2002, August). The case of Ms. B: Suicide's slippery slope. JournalofMedical Ethics, 28(4), 238-240. Lachenmeier, F., Kaplan, K. J., & Caragacianu, D. (1999). Doctor assisted suicide: An analysis of public opinion of Michigan adults. Omega, 40(1), 61-87. Leichtentritt, R. D., & Rettig, K. D. (1999). My parent's dignified death is different from mine: Moral problem solving about euthanasia. Journalof Social and PersonalRelationships, 16(3), 385-406. Leichtentritt, R. D., &Rettig, K. D. (2001, August). Values underlying end-of-life decisions: A qualitative approach. HealthandSocial Work, 26(3), 150-159. Loewy, E. H., & Loewy, R .S. (2000). The ethics of terminal care: Orchestrating the end of life. New York: Kluwer Academic/ Plenum. Manetta, A. A., & Wells, J. G. (2001, August). Ethical issues in the social worker's role in physician-assisted suicide. Healthand Social Work, 26(3), 160-166. McCormack, P. (1998). Quality of life and the right to die: An ethical dilemma. JournalofAdvanced Nursing, 28(1), 63-69. Miller, P. J., Hedlund, S. C., & Murphy, K. A. (1998). Social work assessment at the end of life: Practice guidelines for suicide and the terminally ill. Social Work in Healthcare,26(4), 23-36. National Association of Social Workers. (1999). Code of ethics. Retrieved April 29, 2004, from http://www.socialworkers. org/pubs /code/ code.asp Orr, R. D. (2001). Pain management rather than assisted suicide: The ethical high ground. PainMedicine,2(2), 131-137. R6der, T., Kubillus, V., & Burwell, A. (1995). Psychiatrists-Themen behind Hitler (R. Rentmeister & S. Rentmeister, Trans.). Los Angeles: Freedom Publishing. Rosenblatt, P. (1993). Cross-cultural variation in the experience, expression, and understanding of grief. In D.P. Irish, K.F Lundquist, & V.J. Taylor (Eds.), Ethnic variations in dying, death, and grief (pp. 13-19). Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis.
- 21. Attitudes Toward Euthanasia 23 Sarton, G. (1952). The Hippocratic oath. In A history of science I. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Retrieved April 29, 2004, from http://www.csun.edu/~hcm004/hippocr. html Snyder, C. (2001). Death and dying: Who decides. New York: Gale Group. Stauch, M. (2000, August). Causal authorship and the equality principle: A defence of the acts/omissions distinction in euthanasia. JournalofMedical Ethics, 26(4), 237-242. Thorton, J. (1997, May 26). Defying the death ethic. The New American, 13(11), 23-26. Van Zyl, L. (2000). Euthanasia and the principle-based ethic. In Death and compassion:A virtue-basedapproachto euthanasia.(pp. 39- 68). Burlington, VT: Ashgate. Vose, L.A., & Nelson, R. M. (1999, October). Ethical issues surrounding limitation and withdrawal of support in the pediatric intensive care unit. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, 14(5), 220-230. Webb, P. (Ed.). (2000). Ethical issues and palliativecare: Reflections and considerations.Manchester: Hochland and Hochland. Wooddell, V., & Kaplan, K .J. (1999). Effect of the doctor on college students' attitudes towards physician-assisted suicide. Omega, 40(1), 43-60. Worsnop, R. L. (1997, September 5). Caring for the dying. CQ Researcher,7(33), 769-792.
- 22. 24 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare