UK geriatricians' attitudes to active voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted death

To describe the views of British geriatricians on active voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted death.

Postal questionnaire to 742 consultant members of the British Geriatrics Society.

81% considered active voluntary euthanasia never to be justified ethically, although 23% supported legalization in some situations and 13% would be willing to administer active voluntary euthanasia in some situations. With regard to physician-assisted death, 68% opposed it on ethical grounds and 24% supported its legalization in some instances, with 12% stating they would be willing to provide such assistance in some situations. Free text comments frequently cited good palliative care as an important response to such issues in clinical practice.