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Geriatricians' Attitudes toward Assisting Suicide of Dementia Patients
Author(s) -
Watts David T.,
Howell Timothy,
Priefer Beverly A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb01983.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dementia , assisted suicide , suicide prevention , psychiatry , commit , suicide methods , injury prevention , poison control , gerontology , family medicine , medical emergency , suicide rates , disease , pathology , database , computer science
Objective To identify geriatricians' attitudes toward assisting suicide of dementia patients, with particular reference to the case of Janet Adkins/Dr. Kevorkian. Design Mailed questionnaire survey. Setting Four distinct geographical regions of the US: Far West, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast. Participants All 1,381 ABIM‐certified internist geriatricians in the four regions; 727 (52.6%) responded. Main Outcome Measures Positive, negative, or unsure responses to questionnaire items; comparison of responses between geographical regions. Results Sixty‐six percent of respondents felt that Dr. Kevorkian's assistance of Janet Adkins' suicide was not justifiable, while 14% stated it was morally justifiable. Twenty‐nine percent felt Janet Adkins' decision to commit suicide was morally wrong, while 49% stated it was not morally wrong. If the responding geriatricians themselves were diagnosed as having a dementing illness, 41% would consider suicide a possible option; 39% would not consider suicide. Twenty‐six percent favored easing restrictions on physician‐assisted suicide of competent dementia patients, while 57% opposed this. If current restrictions were eased, 21% would consider assisting suicide of competent dementia patients, and 66% would not. Respondents' attitudes showed some significant ( P ≤ 0.05) variations by geographical region. Where regional differences were observed, respondents in the Midwest tended to show more conservative attitudes toward physician‐assisted suicide than those in the Far West and Northeast. Conclusions Most responding geriatricians would not consider assisting suicide of dementia patients, and most oppose easing restrictions on physician‐assisted suicide. Many, however, could accept the (unassisted) suicide of a competent dementia patient, and many would consider suicide themselves if stricken with dementia.