Institute of Marriage and Family Canada eReview – November 17, 2010
Changing Canadian attitudes toward euthanasia: A recent Environics poll commissioned by Life Canada suggests diminishing support for legalized euthanasia
By Derek Miedema, Researcher
A poll released on November 3, 2010 shows some encouraging results with regards to Canadian attitudes toward legalized euthanasia. Support for legalized euthanasia is declining, and concern about end-of-life care is rising. The poll was commissioned by Life Canada, a national pro-life education group and conducted by Environics Canada. The poll found a decrease in the number of Canadians who strongly support legalized euthanasia from 2009. “There has been a three point decline (from 25 per cent to 21 per cent) in the proportion of Canadians who strongly support the legalization of voluntary euthanasia,” reads the poll. [1]
At the same time, the poll shows that concerns about abuse in the context of non-voluntary euthanasia (euthanasia without consent) are very high. “Almost eight in ten Canadians express concern that legalized euthanasia would lead to a significant number of the sick, disabled or elderly being euthanized without their consent, and this proportion is up eight per cent since 2009.”
Canadians are taking note of the reality of cost pressures in health care as well. Says Life Canada: “Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of Canadians express concern that the elderly would feel pressured to accept euthanasia in order to reduce health care costs, up seven per cent since 2009.”