Date Approved

2001

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.)

Degree Program

Physician Assistant Studies

Abstract

Study Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the attitudes regarding euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Muskegon County area with regard to age, gender, religion and the level of education.

Design: Surveys of Muskegon County residents. This survey was conducted over a 3-month period of time with 225 individual surveys completed.

Setting: The surveying was conducted at various businesses throughout Muskegon County.

Participants: The survey included residents of Muskegon County who were 18 years of age or older. The people who were not residents of Muskegon County or who were under the age of 18 were excluded from the survey. All individuals approached were given the option to participate in the survey. There were 225 participants in the survey.

Interventions: This project consisted of conducting a survey to the people of Muskegon County. Demographic information (age, gender, religion, degree of religiosity and the level of education) was statistically compared to answering the question, “When a person has a disease that cannot be cured, do you think doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient’s life by some painless means if the patient and his/her family request it?”

Results: The data collected looked at the various demographics of age, gender, religion, degree of religiosity and the level of education and compared these with regard to the question relating to attitudes about euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The results of the survey were entered into the SPSS program at Grand Valley State University for statistical analysis.

Conclusion: The conclusion of the survey revealed that age, gender, and educational level did not have an impact on the person’s answer as to allowing physician-assisted suicide to terminally ill patients. However, religious preference and degree of religiosity were significant with regard to attitudes on physician-assisted suicide.

Comments

Questions or concerns regarding the copyright status of this item may be directed to scholarworks@gvsu.edu.

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