title: Determinants of favourable opinions about euthanasia in a sample of French physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The question whether euthanasia should be legalised has led to substantial public debate in France. The objective of this study in a sample of French physicians was to establish the potential determinants of a favourable opinion about euthanasia in general and when faced with a specific situation as embodied in the Humbert affair.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey investigating two different samples of medical doctors: (1) those specialised in palliative care and affiliated to the French Society for Patient Accompaniment and Palliative Care; (2) medical interns (medical doctors in training course) in a French medical university (Marseille). A questionnaire was sent (email) to each voluntary participant including sociodemographics, professional status, mention of believing in God, and opinion about euthanasia (the question was designed to assess the general opinion about euthanasia and the opinion about a specific case, the Vincent Humbert' case (a man who was rendered quadriplegic, blind, and mute after an accident and has requested euthanasia).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 413 physicians participated in the research (participation rate: 48.5%). Less than half of the population were favourable to euthanasia in general and almost two-thirds of the population were favourable to Vincent Humbert's request for euthanasia. Based on the multivariate analysis, individuals believing in God and being a medical intern were significant independent factors linked to having a favourable opinion about euthanasia in general and about the Vincent Humbert's request.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is still no study in France on the development of opinion about euthanasia and its impact. The issue goes beyond the strictly professional sphere and involves broader socio-political stakes. These stakes do not necessarily take into account medical practices and experiences or the desires of end-of-life patients. The professional upheaval that the future French legal framework will doubtlessly trigger will require further research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The professional upheaval that the future French legal framework will doubtlessly trigger will require further research.
authors.affiliation: APHM, Timone, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, 13385, Marseille, France. lionel.dany@univ-amu.fr.|LPS EA849, Aix-Marseille Université, 13621, Aix-en-Provence, France. lionel.dany@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dany
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Aide Méthodologique à la Recherche Clinique et Epidémiologique, AP-HM, Marseille, France. karine.baumstarck@univ-amu.fr.|EA3279, Self-perceived Health Assessment Research Unit, Aix Marseille Université, 27 bd Jean Moulin, Marseille, cedex 05 F-13385, France. karine.baumstarck@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baumstarck
authors.affiliation: APHM, Timone, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, 13385, Marseille, France. eric.dudoit@ap-hm.fr.|LPS EA849, Aix-Marseille Université, 13621, Aix-en-Provence, France. eric.dudoit@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dudoit
authors.affiliation: APHM, Timone, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, 13385, Marseille, France. florence.duffaud@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duffaud
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Aide Méthodologique à la Recherche Clinique et Epidémiologique, AP-HM, Marseille, France. pascal.auquier@univ-amu.fr.|EA3279, Self-perceived Health Assessment Research Unit, Aix Marseille Université, 27 bd Jean Moulin, Marseille, cedex 05 F-13385, France. pascal.auquier@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auquier
authors.affiliation: APHM, Timone, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, 13385, Marseille, France. Sebastien.SALAS@ap-hm.fr.|CRO2, Aix Marseille Université, 13284, Marseille, France. Sebastien.SALAS@ap-hm.fr.|INSERM U911, 13005, Marseille, France. Sebastien.SALAS@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires