Support for Voluntary and Nonvoluntary Euthanasia: What Roles Do Conditions of Suffering and the Identity of the Terminally Ill Play?
Support for Voluntary and Nonvoluntary Euthanasia: What Roles Do Conditions of Suffering and the Identity of the Terminally Ill Play?
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2015
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eng
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application/pdf
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27 pages
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Journal of Death and
Dying
2015, Vol. 70(3) 251–277
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Abstract
This study investigated the level of support for voluntary and nonvoluntary euthan-
asia under three conditions of suffering (pain; debilitated nature of the body; burden
on the family) experienced by oneself, a significant other, and a person in general. The
sample consisted of 1,897 Thai adults (719 males, 1,178 females) who voluntarily
filled in the study’s questionnaire. Initial multivariate analysis of variance indicated
significant group (oneself, significant other, person in general) differences in level of
support for voluntary and nonvoluntary euthanasia and under the three conditions of
suffering. Multigroup path analysis conducted on the posited euthanasia model
showed that the three conditions of suffering exerted differential direct and indirect
influences on the support of voluntary and nonvoluntary euthanasia as a function of
the identity of the person for whom euthanasia was being considered. The implica-
tions of these findings are discussed.