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Survey Results: The Right to Die

In a national survey, we asked 1,070 people about their thoughts on doctor-assisted suicide. Here, we present the results as raw data.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Methodology: This survey of 1,070 U.S. adults was conducted for ELDR magazine and ELDR.com by Knowledge Networks and is statistically projectable to the U.S. population. The survey was conducted between March 13 and March 25, 2008 using KN's statistically valid, random probability online consumer panel. The sampling margin of error is ±4.7% for all respondents; ±5.9% for the 20-59 age bracket and ±5.0% for 60 plus age bracket.

 

Question 1: Do you favor or oppose making it legal (as it is in Oregon) for doctors to give terminally ill patients the means to end their lives?

All respondents:

• Favor 66.3% (703)
• Oppose 33.7% (357)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Favor 68.6% (553)
• Oppose 31.4% (253)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Favor 59.1% (150)
• Oppose 40.9% (104)

 

Question 2: Upon which of the following do you believe the choice to end one's life should be based:

All respondents:

• the individuals wishes 81.5% (855)
• the laws of the government 4.2% (44)
• the laws of the church 10.3% (108)
• some other third party 4.0% (42)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• the individuals wishes 83.4% (667)
• the laws of the government 4.8% (38)
• the laws of the church 8.3% (66)
• some other third party 3.6% (29)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• the individuals wishes 75.5% (188)
• the laws of the government 2.4% (6)
• the laws of the church 16.9% (42)
• some other third party 5.2% (13)

 

Question 3: If you were in a persistent vegetative state, where your mental functioning had ceased, and where it was highly unlikely you would ever regain consciousness, what would you want?

All respondents:

• be kept alive by artificial means 6.4% (68)
• have artificial means removed 93.6% (993)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• be kept alive by artificial means 6.7% (54)
• have artificial means removed 93.3% (754)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• be kept alive by artificial means 5.5% (14)
• have artificial means removed 94.5% (239)

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