Strong majority favour assisted dying ruling
More than half would consider for
themselves
TORONTO
February 18th, 2016 - In a random sampling of public opinion
taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1406 Canadian voters, as many as 7-in-10 approve
of the Supreme Court ruling making assisted dying legal (70%), while fewer than
one fifth do not approve (19%). One tenth have no opinion (11%). Approval of
assisted dying is common to the youngest (75%), males (72%) rather than females
(68%), among the wealthiest (82%), in Quebec (80%) but not so much in Alberta
((59%) and among New Democrats (82%). Disapproval is characteristic of the
oldest (25%), females (22%), in Alberta (26%) and among Conservatives
(30%).This level of approval is similar to that noted in previous polls before
the Supreme Court ruled on assisted dying.
One half see assisted dying restricted
to those with debilitating illness
When
asked in what circumstances assisted dying should be allowed, close to 3-in-10
say in the case of terminal illness or imminent death only (28%), while a
further one tenth would extend that to intolerable pain that can’t be relieved
(10%). A further percentage would include loss of cognitive function, like
Alzheimer’s or dementia (5%), and a smaller group would also include a chronic
or debilitating illness (3%), for a total of close to one half who would
consider these the minimum conditions for assisted death (46%). Meanwhile,
close to 3-in-10 suggest that assisted death be available for anyone who wants
it (28%), while one tenth will not take a position because of their opposition
to the whole notion of assistance in dying (12%). One seventh don’t share an
opinion (14%).
More than half would consider assisted
dying for themselves
Close to 6-in-10 Canadian adults will
consider assisted dying for themselves (57%), while just one quarter would not
(26%). Close to one fifth (14%) don’t have an answer (13%) or prefer not to
offer an opinion (4%). Considering assisted death is common to the mid aged (45
to 54 - 61%), the wealthiest (65%), in Quebec (67%) and among the least
educated (62%). Those who would not consider assisted death for themselves are
most likely to be the youngest (29%), the least wealthy (a proxy for youth -
35%), in the prairies (33%), among Conservative voters (35%) and among those with
some college or university (33%).
“This
is one of the rare issues we poll that doesn’t necessarily split along regional
or ideological lines. While those in the west and Conservatives are slightly
less likely to favour the idea of assisted dying, the larger differences split
along age lines. Assisted dying is almost universally popular, and has been
since we started polling the issue several years ago,” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and
founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com
or at (416) 960-9603.
