Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/151505

Title

Euthanasia on trial: examining public attitudes toward nonphysician-assisted death

Author(s)

Pfeifer, Jeffrey E.;  Brigham, John C.;  Robinson, Tom

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of various contextual effects on the decisions of subjects evaluating a case of nonphysician-assisted suicide. Subjects viewed a videotaped deposition of an individual emotionally or nonemotionally describing how he assisted in the death of his terminally ill wife by disconnecting her respirator or shooting her in the head. The deposition was followed by jury instructions that outlined the duties of the subject and, in some cases, was followed by a nullification instruction that informed the subjects of their right to ignore the law in this case if they felt it would culminate in an unfair verdict. After viewing the videotape, subjects were asked to rate the guilt of the individual as well as their confidence in this rating. Results indicate that the means of death and the type of instruction significantly affect guilt ratings. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 52, no. 2 (Summer 1996), pp. 119-129

Publication year

1996

FOR Code(s)

1608 Sociology

Keyword(s)

Assisted suicide;  Cause of death;  Death;  Decision making;  Emotion;  Ethics;  Euthanasia;  Family;  Guilt determination;  Health professionals;  Homicide;  Judicial role;  Juries;  Jurisprudence;  Legal liability;  Public perceptions;  Right to die;  Terminal care;  Verdict

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

ISSN

0022-4537

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1996.tb01571.x

Copyright

Copyright © 1996 The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. The copyright policy of the publisher allows the accepted manuscript to be reproduced here after a publisher-enforced embargo period.

Peer reviewed