What influences intentions to request physician-assisted euthanasia or continuous deep sedation?

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Euthanasia prevalence is rising in Belgium, potentially due to evolving societal attitudes.
• Understanding public intention regarding end-of-life options is crucial for healthcare policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the intention of Belgian adults to request physician-assisted euthanasia or continuous deep sedation.
• To examine the link between these intentions and sociodemographic/health characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of National Health Survey data from 9,651 Belgian adults.
• Examination of hypothetical scenarios involving terminal illness.

Main Results:

• 38.3% of respondents would consider requesting euthanasia.
• 25.8% would consider requesting continuous deep sedation.
• Poor subjective health and depression significantly increased the likelihood of considering euthanasia.

Conclusions:

• Subjective health status and mental health are key factors influencing end-of-life care decisions.
• Healthcare providers must pay close attention to these factors when evaluating euthanasia requests.