IN JUNE The Economist and Ipsos MORI polled attitudes towards doctor-assisted dying in 15 countries. We asked whether it should be allowed for adults who are of sound mind and have less than six months to live, and if so, whether doctors should be permitted to administer the lethal drugs, or whether patients should have to take them themselves. We also asked whether it should be legal for under-18s who are terminally ill, if their parents consent; and for adults suffering unbearably because of an incurable but not terminal condition, whether physical or mental.
We found that majorities thought doctor-assisted dying should be legal for adults in 13 of the 15 countries polled. Western Europe was broadly more supportive than eastern Europe. Large majorities were in favour in Belgium and the Netherlands, where doctor-assisted dying is legal, and—much more surprisingly—in France and Spain, where it is not, and the Catholic church’s influence is strong. When people were asked to think about the specifics of how a life should be taken, support fell considerably, though in nine countries it remained above 50%.
France is probably the country where the law is most out of step with public opinion. On June 23rd its Senate voted against a bill legalising deep sedation to ease the last part of the dying process and requiring doctors to take account of dying patients’ wishes regarding their treatment; it must now return to the lower house. Both are standard elsewhere.
In many countries, older people were more likely to be in favour than younger ones—except in Italy and Poland; one possible explanation is that younger people in those two countries are less likely to hew to the Catholic church’s line. In several countries, being richer or better-educated made it more likely that a person would support assisted dying. Everywhere except Germany, where the Nazis’ euthanasia programme has shaped the debate about assisted dying, respondents were keener on doctors administering lethal drugs than leaving people to take the drugs themselves. The gap was particularly wide in Belgium and the Netherlands, both of which allow either option, and also in Italy.
What do you think of doctor-assisted dying? Take the survey for yourself and compare your answers
Majorities in most places were in favour of permitting doctor-assisted dying for those with physical conditions that caused them unbearable suffering. When the suffering was mental, though, only Belgium and the Netherlands (once more) continued to support it. And for terminally ill children, few were willing to allow it. Belgium, the only country with no lower age limit, stood alone in having a majority, or near-majority, in favour for all three age groups we asked about: under-tens, 11- to 14-year-olds and 15- to 17-year-olds. The French and Dutch were in favour for 15- to 17-year-olds only, but everywhere else support was below 50% for children of all ages.