Burlington Free Press
January 5, 2005

Most back right to die, survey says
Doctor-aided death has 80% Vt. support

By Candace Page, Free Press Staff Writer

MONTPELIER -- Nearly eight out of 10 Vermonters would support a bill allowing terminally ill patients to receive medication from their doctors to hasten their deaths, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The poll found strong support for doctor-assisted suicide in virtually every demographic group, almost regardless of age, income, religion, education or political persuasion.

The exceptions were people who described themselves as "very conservative" or who said they attended church once a week or more. A majority of both those groups opposed the idea.

The December poll of 500 Vermonters by Zogby International was commissioned by two groups backing a Vermont assisted-suicide bill -- Death with Dignity Vermont and End of Life Choices.

The poll questions did not use the words "physician-assisted suicide," a phrase usually used to describe the bill, but described the practice instead. Pollsters found 78 percent of respondents said they would support legislation "to allow a mentally competent adult, dying of a terminal disease, the choice to request and receive medication from a physician to peacefully end suffering and hasten death."

"This reflects what I have heard from individuals and families," said Marilyn Bunker of Chelsea, a member of End of Life Choices and a nurse who worked in critical-care units for 30 years. "It's amazing how many patients and family members would pull me aside and ask, 'How much longer does this have to go on?'" when someone was suffering at the end of life.

She objected to the term "assisted suicide," saying suicide to her means taking one's own life when death is not imminent. "This is not suicide. It is death with dignity," she said.

Dr. Robert Orr of Burlington heads the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, a coalition of medical professionals, disability rights advocates and religious leaders who oppose assisted suicide.

He questioned the validity of the poll results, which he described as contradicting half a dozen Vermont and national surveys on assisted suicide that found fewer than half those polled supported the idea when it was described as physician-assisted suicide or "allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients die."

"Neither question used the word suicide," he said of the Zogby poll. "Several research articles have shown that how a question is worded makes a major difference in results.

"These results are especially worrisome in that 40 percent of those responding said it would make no difference in their opinion if a proposed law includes safeguards to protect vulnerable patients," he said. "I'm not sure they understood the meaning or implication of these questions."

In the Zogby poll, respondents first were asked whether a terminally ill patient should be allowed to take his own life, or whether "only God should decide when my life ends." Seventy-two percent said a patient should have that power; 24 percent said the end of life should be left to God.

When asked whether they would be more or less likely to vote for a candidate who supported the legislation, 50 percent said more likely, 13 percent less likely and 36 percent said it would make no difference.

Support for assisted-suicide as described in the poll cut across all demographic groups. Low-income people were as likely to support the idea as people earning more than $75,000 a year. Those with a high school education were nearly as supportive as those with a college degree.

A 70 percent majority of Catholics and Protestants told the pollster they would support the legislation.

About 40 lawmakers co-sponsored the Death with Dignity bill during the 2003-04 legislative session. A number of organizations opposed the measure, including the American Cancer Society and the statewide Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

Lawmakers did not act on the bill last year. Groups supporting the proposal hope the poll -- and a recent legislative study of Oregon's assisted-suicide law -- will encourage the Legislature at least to continue discussing the measure, which is expected to be reintroduced this winter.

"While I respect people making different choices for themselves, a small minority of Vermonters should not be able to impose their views on the vast majority of Vermonters who want more choice and control at the end of their lives," said former Gov. Philip Hoff, a member of End of Life Choices.





Death and dying: Poll questions

Here are some results of a Dec. 3-4 poll of 500 Vermonters on questions about physician-assisted suicide. The poll was conducted by Zogby International and has a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points:
Choose A or B: A. "If I am terminally ill, within six months of dying and with no hope of recovery, the decision about when I should be able to bring a peaceful end to my suffering is mine to make in accordance with my wishes and in consultation with my family and loved ones. (Or) B. Given the sacredness of human life, only God should decide when my life ends."

Answer A: 360 persons, 72 percent

Answer B: 119 persons, 23.8 percent

Neither, not sure: 21 persons, 4.2 percent


"Would you support or oppose legislation to allow a mentally competent adult, dying of a terminal disease, the choice to request and receive medication from a physician to peacefully end suffering and hasten death?"

Support: 388 persons, 77.7 percent

Oppose: 85 persons, 17 percent

Not sure: 27 persons, 5.3 percent


Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who supported such legislation, including the safeguards, or would the candidate's position not have an effect on your vote?

More likely: 253 persons, 50.6 percent

Less likely: 66 persons, 13.2 percent

No difference, not sure: 182 persons, 36.2 percent