Methodology: This survey of 1,070 U.S. adults was conducted for ELDR magazine and ELDR.com by Knowledge Networks and is statistically projectable to the U.S. population. The survey was conducted between March 13 and March 25, 2008 using KN's statistically valid, random probability online consumer panel. The sampling margin of error is ±4.7% for all respondents; ±5.9% for the 20-59 age bracket and ±5.0% for 60 plus age bracket.

 

Question 1: Do you favor or oppose making it legal (as it is in Oregon) for doctors to give terminally ill patients the means to end their lives?

All respondents:

• Favor 66.3% (703)
• Oppose 33.7% (357)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Favor 68.6% (553)
• Oppose 31.4% (253)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Favor 59.1% (150)
• Oppose 40.9% (104)

 

Question 2: Upon which of the following do you believe the choice to end one's life should be based:

All respondents:

• the individuals wishes 81.5% (855)
• the laws of the government 4.2% (44)
• the laws of the church 10.3% (108)
• some other third party 4.0% (42)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• the individuals wishes 83.4% (667)
• the laws of the government 4.8% (38)
• the laws of the church 8.3% (66)
• some other third party 3.6% (29)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• the individuals wishes 75.5% (188)
• the laws of the government 2.4% (6)
• the laws of the church 16.9% (42)
• some other third party 5.2% (13)

 

Question 3: If you were in a persistent vegetative state, where your mental functioning had ceased, and where it was highly unlikely you would ever regain consciousness, what would you want?

All respondents:

• be kept alive by artificial means 6.4% (68)
• have artificial means removed 93.6% (993)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• be kept alive by artificial means 6.7% (54)
• have artificial means removed 93.3% (754)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• be kept alive by artificial means 5.5% (14)
• have artificial means removed 94.5% (239)

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Question 4: If you were terminally ill with no perceived hope of recovery, would you want a doctor to give you the means to end your own life?

All respondents:

• Yes 61.0% (644)
• No 39.0% (412)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Yes 61.8% (496)
• No 38.2% (307)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Yes 58.5% (148)
• No 41.5% (105)

 

Question 5: If you are suffering at the end of life and your doctor cannot relieve that suffering, would you want the option of being sedated into unconsciousness, even though this might hasten your death?

All respondents:

• Yes 82.1% (865)
• No 17.9% (189)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Yes 81.6% (655)
• No 18.4% (148)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Yes 83.7% (210)
• No 16.3% (41)

 

Question 6: Do you currently have a legal document (i.e., advance health care directive) or formal instructions in place that specify what your wishes are if there is no hope for your recovery and you are unable to speak for yourself.

All respondents:

• Yes 24.7% (263)
• No 71.5% (761)
• Not Sure 3.8% (40)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Yes 16.8% (136)
• No 81.2% (658)
• Not Sure 2.0% (16)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Yes 50.0% (127)
• No 40.6% (103)
• Not Sure 9.4% (24)

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Question 7: (If you answered "NO" to Question 6) Are you planning to have such a document in place sometime soon or when you are older?

All respondents:

• Yes 82.3% (648)
• No 17.7% (139)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Yes 82.4% (546)
• No 17.6% (117)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Yes 82.3% (102)
• No 17.7% (22)

 

Question 8: Do you have parents, close relatives or friends who are in their senior years for whom you might be, or eventually be, considered a guardian, caretaker or legal trustee?

All respondents:

• Yes 49.1% (523)
• No 37.2% (397)
• Not Sure 13.7% (146)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Yes 54.0% (439)
• No 30.9% (251)
• Not Sure 15.1% (123)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Yes 33.2% (84)
• No 57.7% (146)
• Not Sure 9.1% (23)

 

Question 9: (If you answered "YES" to Question 8) Have you discussed with them their wishes of what you should do if they were terminally ill with no perceived hope of recovery or in a persistent vegetative state?

All respondents:

• Yes 56.6% (297)
• No 39.4% (207)
• Not Sure 4.0% (21)

For respondents under 60 years of age:

• Yes 54.1% (238)
• No 42.3% (186)
• Not Sure 3.6% (16)

For respondents 60 years of age or over:

• Yes 69.4% (59)
• No 24.7% (21)
• Not Sure 5.9% (5)

Share your opinion and take this survey now [0]. We'll post the results online once we have a statistically valid sample. Learn more about this statistically valid survey [1]» [2]