RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The physician-assisted suicide policy dilemma: a pilot study of the views and experiences of Connecticut physicians
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 527
OP 539
VO 27
IS 4
A1 HI Schwartz
A1 L Curry
A1 K Blank
A1 C Gruman
YR 1999
UL http://jaapl.org/content/27/4/527.abstract
AB Development of fully informed public policy regarding physician-assisted suicide (PAS) requires a thorough understanding of the experiences, attitudes, and beliefs of physicians with respect to this issue. This study gathered data on physician characteristics, attitudes toward PAS, factors influencing attitudes toward PAS, and sensitivity to the role of depression in a sample of 397 psychiatrists, internists, and family practitioners in Connecticut. Central considerations included: the influence of religious values, professional discipline and practice patterns, and ability to diagnose depression in a single evaluation. Psychiatrists were significantly more likely to be supportive of PAS than were internists or family practitioners. Most respondents expressed concern regarding the influence of depression on PAS requests. A subset of physicians endorse PAS yet do not share such concern about risks, suggesting substantial challenges for policy-makers.