Table 3 Descriptive statistics of items regarding justification of euthanasia
Item | Disagreement | Unsure | Agreement | Descriptive statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 % | 2 % | 3 % | 4 % | 5 % | M | SD | |
A terminally ill patient has the right to decide on the end of their life. | 9.8 | 8.5 | 12.0 | 34.6 | 35.1 | 3.77 | 1.280 |
†A patient’s religious preferences regarding treatment related to death or prolongation of life should be absolutely respected even when they conflict with a doctor’s recommendations. (R) | 5.8 | 11.1 | 24.3 | 39.3 | 19.4 | 3.56 | 1.098 |
Voluntary euthanasia (at the request of a terminally ill patient who is capable of making an independent decision) should be made possible by doctors to anyone who wants it. | 13.2 | 16.6 | 12.3 | 32.7 | 25.2 | 3.40 | 1.368 |
A doctor is obliged to help a terminally ill patient to fulfil their wish to die. | 14.7 | 20.9 | 21.4 | 24.7 | 18.3 | 3.11 | 1.328 |
Passive euthanasia (letting a sick patient die due to lack of treatment, failure to resuscitate, turning off a device, stopping treatment, etc.) should be allowed but with legal regulation to prevent abuse. | 14.0 | 22.8 | 19.7 | 31.1 | 12.3 | 3.05 | 1.260 |
A terminally ill minor should be able to make the final decision about the end of their life. | 22.8 | 19.1 | 26.9 | 21.8 | 9.4 | 2.76 | 1.280 |
Severe and terminal illness is not sufficient reason to allow euthanasia. (R) | 24.7 | 29.3 | 18.0 | 16.7 | 11.4 | 2.61 | 1.322 |
Euthanasia in any form should be absolutely banned by law. (R) | 32.6 | 28.2 | 11.8 | 7.7 | 19.6 | 2.54 | 1.495 |
No one, not even the individual themselves, has the right to decide the moment of their death | 30.1 | 29.5 | 13.3 | 14.7 | 12.5 | 2.50 | 1.376 |