TY - JOUR
T1 - Attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide
T2 - Effects of physician background, patient prognosis and patient mental health status
AU - Peacock, Michelle A.
AU - Heath, Wendy P.
AU - Grannemann, Bruce D.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The purpose of this study was to investigate views toward physician-assisted suicide (PAS) as patient illness (terminal, not terminal), patient mental health (depressed, not depressed) and physician background (preoccupied, not preoccupied with death) are varied. Participants (N = 211) read a newspaper article and trial summary involving a PAS then gave their impressions of the patient, physician and PAS. Patient mental health did not affect decisions, but the preoccupied physician's testimony was seen as less believable (intent was seen as patient death, not an end of pain and suffering), and he was more likely to be seen as guilty than the non-preoccupied physician (reflected by both verdict and guilt level ratings). The terminal patient was seen as suffering more, wanting suicide more, and making a more rational decision to die than the non-terminal patient. Results are discussed in light of recent legal activity involving PAS.
AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate views toward physician-assisted suicide (PAS) as patient illness (terminal, not terminal), patient mental health (depressed, not depressed) and physician background (preoccupied, not preoccupied with death) are varied. Participants (N = 211) read a newspaper article and trial summary involving a PAS then gave their impressions of the patient, physician and PAS. Patient mental health did not affect decisions, but the preoccupied physician's testimony was seen as less believable (intent was seen as patient death, not an end of pain and suffering), and he was more likely to be seen as guilty than the non-preoccupied physician (reflected by both verdict and guilt level ratings). The terminal patient was seen as suffering more, wanting suicide more, and making a more rational decision to die than the non-terminal patient. Results are discussed in light of recent legal activity involving PAS.
KW - Attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035739133&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035739133&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10683160108401795
DO - 10.1080/10683160108401795
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035739133
SN - 1068-316X
VL - 7
SP - 217
EP - 242
JO - Psychology, Crime and Law
JF - Psychology, Crime and Law
IS - 3
ER -