{"id":294581,"date":"2026-03-23T13:57:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=294581"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:57:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:57:25","slug":"about-6-in-10-americans-dont-have-moral-objections-to-medical-aid-in-dying","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/03\/23\/about-6-in-10-americans-dont-have-moral-objections-to-medical-aid-in-dying\/","title":{"rendered":"About 6 in 10 Americans don\u2019t have moral objections to medical aid in dying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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(petra012015 via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Illinois<\/a> and New York<\/a> recently joined 11 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing people with serious illnesses to end their lives with a doctor\u2019s help. While most states<\/a> still ban physician-assisted death, a majority of Americans see the practice as morally permissible or don\u2019t consider it a moral issue, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About six-in-ten Americans say that patients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor is either morally acceptable (34%) or not a moral issue (29%). Another 35% say it\u2019s morally wrong, according to the survey, which was conducted in spring 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physician-assisted death is also sometimes called \u201cmedical aid in dying,\u201d \u201cdoctor-assisted death\u201d or \u201cphysician-assisted suicide.\u201d (Refer to the terminology box for more details.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans\u2019 views of physician-assisted death as more states legalize the practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center does high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and leaders. This analysis builds on a larger body of work that explores questions around morality<\/a>, death and dying<\/a>, and religion and politics<\/a> in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 8,937 U.S. adults from May 5 to 11, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP). The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population. Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are our survey questions<\/a>, along with responses, and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Terminology<\/summary>\n

Our survey asked respondents about the morality of \u201cpatients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor.\u201d Throughout this analysis, we use \u201cphysician-assisted death\u201d as shorthand. Terminology used to describe this issue is often politicized, so we tried to use as neutral a term as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language around this topic is also shifting<\/a>. One common term, \u201cphysician-assisted suicide,\u201d is now often used by groups who oppose<\/a> the practice, including the American Medical Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other health organizations don\u2019t categorize the practice as suicide. The American Psychological Association (which officially takes a neutral stance<\/a>) prefers the term \u201cassisted dying,\u201d while the American Association of Suicidology distinguishes the practice<\/a> from suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern-day advocates<\/a>, meanwhile, often refer to \u201cdeath with dignity\u201d or \u201cthe right to die.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Attitudes toward physician-assisted death vary by political party, as they do on most of the 15 behaviors we asked about<\/a> in our surveys on moral issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Republicans split on morality of physician-assisted death, while Democrats largely see it as permissible<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
% who say patients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor is \u2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
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Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Figures may not add to subtotals due to rounding.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 5-11, 2025.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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