Democrats and Independents are more likely to voice support for either concept than Republicans.
People in the United States are divided in their assessment of euthanasia and assisted suicide, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,001 American adults, 42 per cent of respondents are in favor of legalizing euthanasia in the United States, while 36 per cent oppose this notion.
While almost half of Democrats (47%) and Independents (also 47%) support legalizing euthanasia in the U.S., a majority of Republicans (51%) are against this idea.
Arguments
A large majority of respondents believe legalizing euthanasia would give people who are suffering an opportunity to ease their pain (70%) and establish clearer guidelines for doctors to deal with end-of-life decisions (60%).
However, 52 per cent of Americans think legalizing euthanasia would leave vulnerable people without sufficient legal protection. Respondents are evenly split on whether legalizing euthanasia would send the message that the lives of the sick or disabled are less valuable (44% agree, 44% disagree).
Assisted Suicide
Overall, 37 per cent of respondents think people who help a person to commit suicide should be prosecuted, while 34 per cent disagree. Republicans (45%) are more likely to support prosecution in these cases than Democrats (36%) and Independents (32%).
In this survey, respondents were asked to select the appropriate punishment for a parent who is found guilty of assisting a terminally ill son or daughter to die. While just over a third of Americans (35%) would apply no penalty at all, 12 per cent would levy a fine, 21 per cent would prefer a prison sentence at the discretion of a judge, and six per cent would impose a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+604 647 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
here is an area where idealogy and ignorance are used to the detriment of our nation.
This type of situation is just what our society doesn’t need to think is a bad thing everybody passes thats just the way it is but if someone wants help it is nobodys right to tell them no they don’t.
This should be left up to the person who is suffering. No one should be denied death with dignity.
I believe that if a person has the mental capacity to choose between life or death, it should be left between them and God. I wouldn’t want to live if I had no control over my bodily or mental functions and I wouldn’t want to live to be a burden on those people that care about me.
I’m sorry but this goes agaisnt God, it’s still killing. It doesn’t matter how you dress it up. Let nature take it’s course. There is hospice and hospital and as a nurse these people are not left to suffer. We need to stop playing God and let him do him do his work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is entirely between the patient and physician (no nurse intervention needed here). If a patient does not wish to fight to the end by using life-saving support (also against God’s will), harsh medications with adverse affects, and/or surgery, they ultimately will die a natural death through refusal of further treatment. That is up to the patient and not for others to judge. I disagree with keeping people alive against their wishes by use of life-saving support. It is costly and ultimately serves no purpose to the patient, who is choosing to die and is alive against his/her wishes. Patients’ wishes should be adhered to and not interfered with by seemingly “do gooders.”