title: Characteristics of persons approving of physician-assisted death.
abstract: The present study describes the characteristics and attitudes of non-terminally ill persons who support physician-assisted death (PAD) along with their expectations and preferences for care in the future. Participants (N = 101) completed a survey assessing current affect and attitudes and those expected if terminally ill. Participants' responses indicated they were a well-adjusted group with little evidence of depressive symptoms or past suicidal ideation. Current attitudes were differentially related to future care preferences. Findings suggest a need for longitudinal research on the stability of current attitudes and how they relate to PAD among non-terminally ill supporters of assisted death.
authors.affiliation: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, CeMHOR, HSR & D, Bldg. 58, 2200 Fort Roots Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72214, USA. BlevinsDean@uams.edu
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blevins
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Werth
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D003625:Data Collection; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D040821:Human Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States