title: Cancer patients' attitudes toward euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: the influence of question wording and patients' own definitions on responses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to: (1) investigate patients' views on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS), and (2) examine the impact of question wording and patients' own definitions on their responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newcastle (Australia) Mater Hospital Outpatients Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients over 18 years of age, attending the clinic for follow-up consultation or treatment by a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist or haematologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face patient interviews were conducted examining attitudes to euthanasia and PAS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  236 patients with cancer (24% participation rate; 87% consent rate) were interviewed. Though the majority of participants supported the idea of euthanasia, patient views varied significantly according to question wording and their own understanding of the definition of euthanasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Researchers need to be circumspect about framing and interpreting questions about support of 'euthanasia', as the term can mean different things to different people, and response may depend upon the specifics of the question asked.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Education in Ageing, The University of Newcastle, Level 2, David Maddison Clinical Sciences Building, Watt Street, Newcastle, NSW, 2300, Australia. Lynne.Parkinson@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rainbird
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kerridge
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavenagh
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McPhee
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravenscroft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection; D028601:Euthanasia, Active / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic