Stigma and public attitudes toward euthanasia or assisted suicide for psychiatric conditions: results from a general population survey in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With growing numbers of countries legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide (EAS), there is a debate as to whether EAS should also be available to people with severe, treatment-resistant mental illness. Excluding mental illness as a legitimate reason to receive EAS has been framed as discriminating against people with mental illness.

Aims

We examine whether approval or opposition to psychiatric EAS are related to stigma toward people with mental illness.

Method

We asked a representative sample of the general population in Germany (N = 1515) whether they would approve of EAS for someone with severe, treatment-resistant mental illness. Stigma was assessed with the Value-Based Stigma Inventory (VASI), addressing rejection of people with mental illness i

SUBMITTER: Schomerus G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10897688 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature