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Attitudes toward the Legalization of Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Author

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  • Young Ho Yun

    (Department of Human Systems Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
    Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Jin-Ah Sim

    (School of AI Convergence, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200160, Korea)

  • Yeani Choi

    (Department of Human Systems Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
    Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Hyejeong Yoon

    (Department of Human Systems Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
    College of Liberal Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the general South Korean public attitudes toward the legalization of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS) and examine the reasons underpinning these attitudes. From March–April 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a representative national sample of 1000 South Koreans aged 19 years or older. Three in four participants (76.4%) expressed positive attitudes toward the legalization of EAS. Participants who agreed with this legalization reported “meaninglessness of the rest of life” and “right to a good death” as their main reasons. Participants who disagreed with the legalization of EAS reported “respect for life”, “violation of the right to self-determination”, “risk of abuse or overuse”, and “violation of human rights” as theirs. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, participants with poor physical status (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.41, 95%; confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.93) or comorbidity (aOR: 1.84, 95%; CI: 1.19–2.83) showed positive attitudes toward the legalization of EAS. In summary, most of the general South Korean population regards the legalization of EAS positively, especially participants with poor physical status or comorbidity.

Suggested Citation

  • Young Ho Yun & Jin-Ah Sim & Yeani Choi & Hyejeong Yoon, 2022. "Attitudes toward the Legalization of Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5183-:d:801277
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rietjens, Judith A.C. & van der Heide, Agnes & Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje D. & van der Maas, Paul J. & van der Wal, Gerrit, 2005. "A comparison of attitudes towards end-of-life decisions: Survey among the Dutch general public and physicians," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(8), pages 1723-1732, October.
    2. Sarah Vilpert & Carmen Borrat-Besson & Gian Domenico Borasio & Jürgen Maurer, 2020. "Associations of end-of-life preferences and trust in institutions with public support for assisted suicide evidence from nationally representative survey data of older adults in Switzerland," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, April.
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