{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "aeaec7859d7c4eca9e606cb043037130", "timestamp": "2026-09-26T23:31:44.288Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/aeaec7859d7c4eca9e606cb043037130.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/aeaec7859d7c4eca9e606cb043037130"}}, "title": "Attitudes Toward Medical Assistance in Dying Among Swedish Palliative Care Professionals.", "authors": [{"family": "Segerlantz", "given": "Mikael", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Beck", "given": "Ingela", "initials": "I"}, {"family": "Bj\u00f6rk", "given": "Joar", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Elmlund", "given": "Mattias", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "F\u00fcrst", "given": "Carl Johan", "initials": "CJ"}, {"family": "Jacobsen", "given": "Juliet", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Rasmussen", "given": "Birgit", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "Schelin", "given": "Maria E C", "initials": "MEC"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2025-02-00", "journal": {"title": "J Palliat Med", "issn": "1557-7740", "volume": "28", "issue": "2", "pages": "175-184", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "The debate over legalizing medical assistance in dying (assisted dying) is ongoing, also in Nordic countries such as Sweden where assisted dying is illegal. A 2020 survey by the Swedish Medical Association highlighted varied perspectives, with 41% of physicians supporting and 34% opposing legalization. Professionals in palliative care were more negative toward it. Background: To assess attitudes toward the legalization of, and the need for education about, assisted dying among Swedish palliative care professionals. Objective: A survey with 19 closed- and 2 open-ended questions was administered to the participants of the 2023 Swedish National Conference on Palliative Care (including physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, administrators, and researchers). Study Design: Of the 866 conference participants who were invited, 444 (51%) participated. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (89%); 60% were nurses and 17% physicians. The results showed that 38% opposed euthanasia, 36% supported it, and 26% remained undecided, with similar findings regarding physician-assisted suicide. There was a significant trend of increasingly negative attitudes with age and experience in palliative care (Results:p < 0.01). Physicians emerged as the group most opposed to euthanasia (80%), whereas assistant nurses were the most positive, with 13% opposing legalization, and 33% of the nurses opposed euthanasia. The open-ended questions revealed thoughts regarding the complexity of the issue and the need for further discussion and education. In Sweden, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is illegal, more than one-third of palliative care professionals were in favor of legalizing these practices while one-fourth were undecided, these proportions differed markedly between professions. Further, we uncovered a significant need for further discussion and education.Conclusion:", "doi": "10.1089/jpm.2024.0183", "pmid": "39665679", "labels": [], "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T12:30:02.043Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T12:30:02.090Z"}