(Wesley J. Smith / NRO) – Good news from Gallup. Support for assisted suicide is down. Moreover, the poll shows why pro–assisted-suicide advocates rely so heavily on gooey euphemisms, such as “aid in dying” or “death with dignity.” When people understand the precise act proposed, support for legalization plummets.
From the Gallup press release:
PRINCETON, NJ — In the same month that Vermont became the fourth state to legalize physician-assisted suicide, a May 2-7 Gallup survey finds 70% of Americans in favor of allowing doctors to hasten a terminally ill patient’s death when the matter is described as allowing doctors to “end the patient’s life by some painless means.” At the same time, far fewer — 51% — support it when the process is described as doctors helping a patient “commit suicide.”
Forty-five percent oppose. Note that using vague and non-descriptive language yields a different result. CONTINUE