Finnish physicians’ attitudes towards euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: a nationwide cross-sectional study
AI Summary
Finnish physicians are sharply divided: 29% fully support and 29% fully oppose legalising euthanasia; only 18% fully support physicians assisting suicide.
Gender and clinical experience influence attitudes: female doctors and those with end of life care experience more likely to oppose legalisation; requests correlate with support.
Personal willingness is limited: one in seven would practise euthanasia, and one in six would assist suicide if legal, reflecting ethical controversy.
BMJ Open. 2026 May 18;16(5):e117077. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117077.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study Finnish physicians’ attitudes and opinions toward euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS).
DESIGN: A nationwide cross-sectional study.
SETTING: An online survey was conducted via the Finnish Medical Association in the autumn of 2023 covering all Finnish physicians.
PARTICIPANTS: 8857 Finnish physicians answered the survey, yielding a response rate of 31%.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Finnish physicians’ attitudes towards euthanasia and PAS and background factors influencing these attitudes and opinions.
RESULTS: Of the responders, 29% fully agreed and 29% fully disagreed with the statement ‘Euthanasia should be legalised in Finland’, respectively. Fewer responders (18%) fully agreed that physicians should be able to assist a patient in suicide. Factors such as being female and having experience in end-of-life care were associated with disagreement about legalising euthanasia and assistance in suicide. Conversely, having faced a request for euthanasia or PAS was associated with agreeing on legalising euthanasia and assistance in suicide. One out of seven respondents fully agreed that they could practise euthanasia, and one out of six fully agreed that they could assist a patient in suicide if these practices were legal in Finland.
CONCLUSIONS: Finnish physicians’ attitudes and opinions towards assistance in dying are highly divided, emphasising the controversy of this challenging subject.
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