title: Questionnaire-based survey suggests that the majority of Danish geriatricians are against euthanasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Euthanasia (EU) and/or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is legal in some countries and being considered in others. Attitudes to EU/PAS among Danish geriatricians were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire with 12 questions was e-mailed to all members of the Danish Geriatric Society.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 46% (120/261). A total of 55.8% (67/120) disagreed that EU is ethically justifiable, whereas 22.5% (27/120) found that EU is justifiable. Furthermore, 13.3% (16/120) agreed that EU should be offered as an alternative to palliative treatment, 73.4% (88/120) disagreed. A total of 64.2% (67/120) disagreed that PAS is ethically justifiable, whereas 19.2% (23/120) found that PAS is justifiable. In all, 15% (18/120) agreed that PAS should be offered as an alternative to palliative treatment, whereas 76.6% (92/120) disagreed. The impact of legalisation of EU/PAS on the relationship between physician and patient was believed to be negative by 62.2% (74/119), positive by 12.6% (15/119) and without implications by 25.2% (30/119). Younger physicians tended to be more positive towards EU/PAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Danish geriatricians are opposed to EU and PAS.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  none.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  none.
authors.affiliation: lars.matzen@rsyd.dk.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ilvemark
authors.forename: Bård
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dahle
authors.forename: Lars-Erik
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Matzen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003718:Denmark; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires