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Attitudes Toward Medical Assistance in Dying Among Swedish Palliative Care Professionals

Segerlantz, Mikael LU ; Beck, Ingela LU ; Björk, Joar ; Elmlund, Mattias ; Fürst, Carl Johan LU ; Jacobsen, Juliet LU ; Rasmussen, Birgit LU and Schelin, Maria E C LU orcid (2025) In Journal of Palliative Medicine 28(2). p.175-184
Abstract



Background:
The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it.

Objective:
To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals.

Study Design:
A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care... (More)



Background:
The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it.

Objective:
To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals.

Study Design:
A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care (including physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, administrators, and researchers).

Results:
Of the 866 conference participants who were invited, 444 (51%) participated. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (89%); 60% were nurses and 17% physicians. The results showed that 38% opposed euthanasia, 36% supported it, and 26% remained undecided, with similar findings regarding physician-assisted suicide. There was a significant trend of increasingly negative attitudes with age and experience in palliative care (
p < 0.01). Physicians emerged as the group most opposed to euthanasia (80%), whereas assistant nurses were the most positive, with 13% opposing legalization, and 33% of the nurses opposed euthanasia. The open-ended questions revealed thoughts regarding the complexity of the issue and the need for further discussion and education.

Conclusion:
In Sweden, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is illegal, more than one-third of palliative care professionals were in favor of legalizing these practices while one-fourth were undecided, these proportions differed markedly between professions. Further, we uncovered a significant need for further discussion and education.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Palliative Medicine
volume
28
issue
2
pages
175 - 184
publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:39665679
  • scopus:85212210914
ISSN
1096-6218
DOI
10.1089/jpm.2024.0183
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a80b698a-5ff4-46b0-be91-3bf56d30a570
date added to LUP
2024-12-16 17:38:03
date last changed
2025-10-14 10:14:57
@article{a80b698a-5ff4-46b0-be91-3bf56d30a570,
  abstract     = {{<p><br>
 <br>
 Background:<br>
 The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it. <br>
 <br>
 Objective:<br>
 To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals. <br>
 <br>
 Study Design:<br>
 A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care (including physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, administrators, and researchers).<br>
 <br>
 Results:<br>
 Of the 866 conference participants who were invited, 444 (51%) participated. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (89%); 60% were nurses and 17% physicians. The results showed that 38% opposed euthanasia, 36% supported it, and 26% remained undecided, with similar findings regarding physician-assisted suicide. There was a significant trend of increasingly negative attitudes with age and experience in palliative care (<br>
 p &lt; 0.01). Physicians emerged as the group most opposed to euthanasia (80%), whereas assistant nurses were the most positive, with 13% opposing legalization, and 33% of the nurses opposed euthanasia. The open-ended questions revealed thoughts regarding the complexity of the issue and the need for further discussion and education. <br>
 <br>
 Conclusion:<br>
 In Sweden, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is illegal, more than one-third of palliative care professionals were in favor of legalizing these practices while one-fourth were undecided, these proportions differed markedly between professions. Further, we uncovered a significant need for further discussion and education.<br>
 </p>}},
  author       = {{Segerlantz, Mikael and Beck, Ingela and Björk, Joar and Elmlund, Mattias and Fürst, Carl Johan and Jacobsen, Juliet and Rasmussen, Birgit and Schelin, Maria E C}},
  issn         = {{1096-6218}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{175--184}},
  publisher    = {{Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Palliative Medicine}},
  title        = {{Attitudes Toward Medical Assistance in Dying Among Swedish Palliative Care Professionals}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2024.0183}},
  doi          = {{10.1089/jpm.2024.0183}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}