J Med Ethics
Physicians favor comfort over life-sustaining practices at end of life
June 12, 2025

Study details: This cross-sectional survey (May 2022–Feb 2023) assessed end-of-life preferences among 1,157 physicians—including general practitioners, palliative care physicians, and specialists—across eight jurisdictions in North America, Europe, and Australia. The study explored attitudes toward life-sustaining and life-shortening practices in hypothetical cancer and Alzheimer’s disease scenarios.
Results: Physicians overwhelmingly rejected life-sustaining interventions, with fewer than 1% favoring CPR or mechanical ventilation. In contrast, 54.2% (cancer) and 51.5% (Alzheimer’s) viewed euthanasia as a (very) good option. Preferences varied significantly by region, with support for euthanasia highest in Belgium (up to 81%) and lowest in Italy (38%) and Georgia, U.S. (37%). Legal context strongly influenced attitudes: physicians in jurisdictions permitting both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide were significantly more likely to support euthanasia (odds ratio [OR] 3.1 for cancer; OR 1.9 for Alzheimer’s).
Clinical impact: Physicians largely prefer symptom relief and autonomy over aggressive life-sustaining measures. Legal frameworks appear to shape ethical perspectives, suggesting that policy changes could influence clinical practice and end-of-life care norms.
Source:
Mroz S, et al. (2025, June 10). J Med Ethics. Physicians' preferences for their own end of life: a comparison across North America, Europe, and Australia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40494645/
TRENDING THIS WEEK