title: Assistance in dying for older people without a serious medical condition who have a wish to die: a national cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Dutch euthanasia law regulates physician assistance in dying for patients who are suffering unbearably from a medical condition. We studied the attitudes of the Dutch population to assistance in dying for older persons who have a wish to die without the presence of a serious medical condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a random sample of the Dutch public (response rate 78%, n=1960), using statements and vignettes about attitudes to assistance in dying for older persons who are tired of living.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A minority of 26% agreed with a vignette in which a physician warrants the request for physician-assisted suicide of an older person who is tired of living without having a serious medical condition. Furthermore, 21% agreed with the statement 'In my opinion euthanasia should be allowed for persons who are tired of living without having a serious disease'. People supporting euthanasia for older persons who are tired of living were more likely than opponents to be highly educated (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3), to be non-religious (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3), to have little trust in physicians (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.2), and to prefer to make their own healthcare decisions (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it is lower than the level of support for assistance in dying for patients whose suffering is rooted in a serious medical condition, our finding that a substantial minority of the general public supports physician assistance in dying for older people who are tired of living implies that this topic may need to be taken seriously in the debate about end-of-life decision-making.
authors: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Natasja J H
authors: NJ
authors: Raijmakers
authors: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Agnes
authors: A
authors: van der Heide
authors: Julius Center for Health Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Pauline S C
authors: PS
authors: Kouwenhoven
authors: Julius Center for Health Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Ghislaine J M W
authors: GJ
authors: van Thiel
authors: Julius Center for Health Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Johannes J M
authors: JJ
authors: van Delden
authors: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Judith A C
authors: JA
authors: Rietjens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004522:Educational Status; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes Toward Death; Elderly and Terminally Ill; End of Life Care; Euthanasia