Table 3 Differences in attitudes towards PAS and voluntary euthanasia between individuals with (n = 168) and without suicide loss (n = 361)
Suicide Loss | No Suicide Loss | t | df | p | d | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M (SD) | M (SD) | |||||
Q1: PAS should be permitted in terminally ill patients with a short remaining life expectancy | 4.48 (.92) | 4.67 (.71) | 2.38 | 261.93 | 0.18 | 0.23 |
Q2: Euthanasia should be permitted in terminally ill patients with a short remaining life expectancy | 4.37 (1.02) | 4.37 (1.06) | -.04 | 527 | .972 | 0.00 |
Q3: PAS should be permitted in patients with an incurable chronic illness, but not terminally ill | 3.87 (1.28) | 3.95 (1.14) | .63 | 294.13 | .532 | 0.07 |
Q4: PAS should be permitted in the case of mental illness alone | 3.44 (1.40) | 3.35 (1.26) | -.70 | 296.31 | .484 | 0.07 |
Q5: PAS should be permitted for people with tiredness of life who want to die but have no serious illness | 3.15 (1.46) | 2.99 (1.37) | -1.27 | 527 | .205 | 0.11 |
Q6: The legalization of PAS may result in weak groups experiencing pressure to request aid in dying | 2.96 (1.91) | 2.79 (1.21) | -1.53 | 527 | .128 | 0.49 |
Q7: Instead of allowing PAS, we should develop and expand the provision of palliative care to the dying | 2.93 (1.19) | 3.05 (1.12) | 1.08 | 527 | .281 | 0.10 |
Q8: Treatment limitation can sometimes be the right decision, to avoid a distressing prolongation of the dying process | 4.42 (.79) | 4.50 (.81) | 1.09 | 527 | .276 | 0.10 |
Q9: I support the decision that PAS is now allowed in Germany | 4.32 (1.08) | 4.58 (.85) | 2.78 | 265.32 | .006 | 0.27 |
Q10: I am concerned that PAS organizations are financially enriching themselves | 2.61 (1.30) | 2.50 (1.12) | -1.00 | 287.52 | .338 | 0.09 |
Q11: I would make use of PAS if I were suffering from a serious physical illness | 3.86 (1.22) | 3.98 (1.12) | 1.09 | 303.25 | .277 | 0.10 |
Q12: I can generally understand why people would want to die through PAS | 4.63 (.71) | 4.77 (.47) | 2.30 | 237.04 | .022 | 0.23 |
Q13: I am concerned that people may choose PAS too quickly and, for example, refuse palliative care | 2.95 (1.22) | 2.90 (1.15) | -.45 | 527 | .656 | 0.04 |
Q14: I cannot understand the wish for PAS at all | 1.37 (.79) | 1.18 (.45) | -2.88 | 218.76 | .004 | 0.30 |
Q15: I think doctors in Germany should inform patients about the possibility of PAS as an alternative to treatment options | 3.89 (1.11) | 3.86 (1.19) | -.26 | 527 | .793 | 0.03 |
Q16: I would make use of PAS if I were suffering from a serious mental illness | 3.28 (1.34) | 3.20 (1.22) | -.66 | 299.84 | .508 | 0.06 |