Professed religious affiliation and the practice of euthanasia

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Sociology of Religion
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and active voluntary euthanasia (AVE) are ethically complex end-of-life medical practices.
• Doctor's personal beliefs, including religious affiliation, may influence their attitudes and practices regarding AVE and PAS.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for medical ethics and policy development in palliative and end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between religious affiliation and New South Wales doctors' attitudes towards AVE and PAS.
• To explore whether religious affiliation correlates with doctors' reported practices of AVE.
• To identify specific religious groups with differing views on these end-of-life practices.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 1,238 doctors registered in New South Wales.
• Data collected included self-identified religious affiliation and attitudes towards AVE and PAS.
• Doctors were also asked about their practice of AVE.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in attitudes and practices regarding AVE and PAS were observed based on religious affiliation.
• Doctors without formal religious affiliation ('non-theists') were more sympathetic to AVE and acknowledged practicing it more than 'theists'.
• Catholic doctors showed the most opposition to AVE, yet 18% reported taking active steps to end patients' lives when requested.

Conclusions:

• Religious affiliation is a significant factor influencing doctors' ethical perspectives and practices on AVE and PAS.
• Protestant affiliation showed intermediate attitudes between agnostic/atheist and Catholic groups.
• Even among those with strong religious objections, a notable percentage of doctors have engaged in AVE.