Verhoef M J, Kinsella T D
Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alta.
CMAJ. 1996 Oct 1;155(7):885-90.
To determine whether the opinions of Alberta physicians about active euthanasia had changed and to assess the determinants of potential changes in opinion.
Follow-up survey (mailed questionnaire) of physicians included in the 1991 Alberta Euthanasia Survey.
Alberta.
Of the 1391 physicians who participated in the 1991 survey 1291 (93%) had indicated that they were willing to take part in a follow-up survey. A follow-up questionnaire was mailed in 1994 to 1146 physicians who could be traced through the 1994 Medical Directory of the provincial college of physicians and surgeons; 25 questionnaires were returned because they could not be delivered.
Physicians' opinions about (a) the morality of active euthanasia, (b) changes in the law to permit active euthanasia and (c) the practice of legalized euthanasia.
Of the 1121 physicians sent a follow-up questionnaire 866 (77%) returned it completed. The responses of these same 866 physicians in 1991 provided a basis for comparison. Of the 866, 360 (42%) stated in the 1994 survey that it is sometimes right to practise active euthanasia; a similar proportion (384 [44%]) gave this response in 1991. However, other opinions changed significantly. In 1991, 250 of the respondents (29%) indicated that they would practise active euthanasia if it were legalized, as compared with 128 (15%) in 1994 (p < 0.01). In 1991, 429 (50%) of the respondents thought that the law should be changed to permit active euthanasia, as compared with 316 (37%) in 1994 (p < 0.01). Religious activity was the most important characteristic associated with changes in opinion. Despite the decrease in support for the practice and legalization of active euthanasia between 1991 and 1994, in both surveys at least 70% of those who responded to this question indicated that active euthanasia, if it were legalized, should be performed only by physicians and should be taught at medical sites.
Alberta physicians' support for the practice and legalization of active euthanasia decreased considerably between 1991 and 1994. However, most physicians remain in favour of restricting active euthanasia, if it were legalized, to the medical profession. These results suggest a need for caution and deliberation when changes in the law concerning active euthanasia are examined.
确定艾伯塔省医生对主动安乐死的看法是否发生了变化，并评估看法潜在变化的决定因素。
对1991年艾伯塔省安乐死调查中纳入的医生进行随访调查（邮寄问卷）。
艾伯塔省。
在1991年参与调查的1391名医生中，1291名（93%）表示愿意参加随访调查。1994年向1146名可通过该省医师和外科医生学院1994年医学名录查到的医生邮寄了随访问卷；25份问卷因无法送达而被退回。
医生对（a）主动安乐死的道德性、（b）允许主动安乐死的法律变化以及（c）合法化安乐死实践的看法。
在寄出随访问卷的1121名医生中，866名（77%）完成并返回了问卷。这866名医生在1991年的回答提供了比较基础。在这866名医生中，360名（42%）在1994年的调查中表示实施主动安乐死有时是正确的；1991年有类似比例（384名[44%]）给出了这一回答。然而，其他看法有显著变化。1991年，250名受访者（29%）表示如果主动安乐死合法化他们会实施，而1994年这一比例为128名（15%）（p<0.01）。1991年，429名（50%）受访者认为法律应修改以允许主动安乐死，而1994年这一比例为316名（37%）（p<0.01）。宗教活动是与看法变化相关的最重要特征。尽管1991年至1994年间对主动安乐死实践和合法化的支持有所下降，但在两项调查中，至少70%回答该问题的人表示，如果主动安乐死合法化，应由医生实施且应在医学场所教授。
1991年至1994年间，艾伯塔省医生对主动安乐死实践和合法化的支持大幅下降。然而，大多数医生仍然赞成如果主动安乐死合法化，应将其限制在医疗行业内。这些结果表明，在审查有关主动安乐死的法律变化时需要谨慎和深思熟虑。
