BMJ  2003;327 (13 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7415.0-e

Many French doctors want the legalisation of euthanasia

Many doctors in France support the legalisation of euthanasia, and this may be true for general practitioners and neurologists more than for oncologists. Peretti-Watel and colleagues (p 595) surveyed 917 French doctors from different medical specialties about their attitudes to and practices of euthanasia, end of life care, and doctor-patient communication. Almost a half of general practitioners and neurologists said euthanasia should be legalised, compared with only a third of oncologists. Because oncologists provide more palliative care, have better communication with terminally ill patients, and promote the autonomy of their patients, the authors say they expected to find the reverse finding.

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Doctors' opinions on euthanasia, end of life care, and doctor-patient communication: telephone survey in France

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BMJ 2003 327: 595-596. [Full Text] [PDF]