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July 18, 2020

VAD Survey Results

VAD Survey by Dr David Swanton, Ethical Rights, Canberra Australia

(Survey developed in conjunction with Dr Wendy Gunthorpe, Straight Talk Consulting)

Survey Background

  • Survey conducted: 27 July 2020 –  27 February 2021
  • Sent to World Federation of Right to Die Societies, Exit International, Dying with Dignity (DWD) and Voluntary Euthanasia Societies (VES), who then forwarded it to their members
  • 1640 responses worldwide, ≈1.5% response rate, error ≤3% (95% confidence)
  • That is, given a response to a particular question of, for example 60%, we can be 95% sure that the true percentage of the population who would choose a response lies within the margin of error, that is between 57% and 63%

Demographics

  • 60% Australia, 18% USA, 6% other European, 5% UK
  • 60% female, 92% were >50y, and 40% were 70–79y
  • 76% not religious;
  • 68% have at least one higher degree
  • 45% belong to Exit, 43% to DWDs, 16% to VESs, and 13% to other organisations
  • 72% did not have disability; 29% of those had particular needs
  • In Australia, 32% had no preferred political party. Supported parties were Greens (20%), Labor (18%), and Liberal (18%)
  • Most people joined to obtain information, practical advice and support their organisation

Attitudes I – VAD Eligibility

Attitudes II – Desired Location of Death

 

Attitudes III – Quality of Life

Summary of Results

  • There is a need for VAD to be legalised.
  • VAD advocates are mainly older, well-educated, not religious and generally not interested in travelling to another country to die.
  • Regulatory systems should focus on permitting well-informed persons with decision making capacity making voluntary decisions to die.
  • Less importance should be attached to being terminally ill, having doctors administer drugs, residency/citizenship or having limited life expectancy.
  • People with advance directives and those suffering unbearably, (not terminally ill) should have access to VAD.
  • Doctors should be able to prescribe a lethal drug and non-doctors should be permitted to assist with VAD.
  • Consideration should be given to expanding VAD regulation to give access to those suffering from mental illness, dementia, clinical depression and children.

Legalised VAD provides

  • reduced suffering
  • comfort knowing that their end of life needs will be met and illegal options will be unnecessary
  • peace of mind knowing that they won’t suffer if their mental situation worsens with VAD-relevant advance directives won’t require doctors for drug administration
    can have a spouse or partner present at their death

VAD Survey Results