Survey of GB adults on assisted suicide.
- Four in ten adults agree that cases such as Dr Harold Shipman and the Gosport Hospital scandal make them “concerned about changing the law to allow physician assisted suicide” (42%).
- Eight in ten agree that “as a society we ought to try to do everything we reasonably can to reduce the rate of suicides, especially among men who are three times as likely as women to take their own lives” (78%), while only 6% disagree.
- Half the public are concerned that if assisted suicide were legal, some people would feel pressurised into accepting help to take their own life so as not to be a burden on others (51%).
- Almost half also agree that if GPs are given the power to help patients commit suicide it will fundamentally change the relationship between a doctor and patient, since GPs are currently under a duty to protect and preserve the lives of patients (48%). Fewer than a quarter disagree(23%).
Date Published: 14/02/2019
Client: Care Not Killing
Methodology
ComRes surveyed 2,040 British adults online between 8th and 10st February 2019. Data were weighted to be representative of all British adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.