X-Message-Number: 29546
Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:11:52 -0700
From: Olaf Henny <>
Subject: Survey: Doctor-assisted suicide should be legal
References: <>

TORONTO   A survey of dying cancer patients has found that 63% 
believe euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide should be 
legalized in Canada.

The study, published in the journal Health Psychology, is thought 
to be one of the largest of its kind, and includes interviews 
with 379 patients receiving palliative care for cancer.

40% said they would consider making a future request for 
doctor-assisted suicide if their situation deteriorated to a 
 worst-case scenario. 

10% believed that if the option had been legally available, they 
would already have requested euthanasia, usually because of 
uncontrolled pain.

But the study found that when the pain was brought under control, 
they tended to change their minds.

The results are part of the Canadian National Palliative Care 
Survey, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The lead researcher, Dr. Keith Wilson, an associate professor of 
medicine at the University of Ottawa, said the study has several 
limitations.

For example, some physicians chose not to approach patients about 
the questions, fearing it would compromise their care. And some 
patients who were approached declined to take part 

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