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33 J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare 5 (2006)
Americans' Attitudes toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002

handle is hein.journals/jrlsasw33 and id is 283 raw text is: Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002 JEN ALLEN, SONIA CHAVEZ, SARA DESIMONE, DEBBIE HOWARD, KEADRON JOHNSON, LUCINDA LAPIERRE, DARREL MONTERO, AND JERRY SANDERS Arizona State University Public opinion polls conducted from 1936 to 2002 found that Americans support both euthanasia and physician-as- sisted suicide. Although public opinion regarding end-of- life decisions appears to have been influenced by the events of the times, Americans have consistently favored the free- dom to end one's life when the perceived quality of life has significantly diminished, either by one's own hand or with the assistance of a physician. This paper indicates that ex- isting policy regarding euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide conflicts with the American public's attitudes re- garding the matter, as well as examines implications for social workers who serve clients facing end-of-life decisions. Keywords: euthanasia, end-of-life decisions, physician- assisted suicide, death and dying issues The concept of euthanasia inevitably provokes a moral dilemma for many Americans, because euthanasia gives in- dividuals the freedom to choose whether to live or die. This article examines the opinions of a cross-section of the American public concerning the ethics of death and dying, attitudes toward euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, and a pa- tient's right to forego life-sustaining treatment. Before we in- terpret the results of studies on these issues, we briefly present definitions, discuss religious perspectives, and examine the history of euthanasia. Euthanasia has been debated for many centuries. Two factors that have contributed to euthanasia's prominence in Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, June 2006, Volume XXXIII, Number 2 5

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