April 14, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Brazil are opposed to euthanasia, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 57 per cent of respondents are against allowing the intentional death of another person in the event of an incurable disease.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Brazil are opposed to euthanasia, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 57 per cent of respondents are against allowing the intentional death of another person in the event of an incurable disease.

Approximately 80 per cent of Brazilians are baptized Roman Catholics. Last year, Brazil's Federal Medicine Council authorized its affiliated doctors to "suspend" the treatment of people who are kept alive by artificial means.

The National Bishops' Conference discussed the situation in an official document, which read: "Certain medical interventions can be deemed inadequate, due to the situation of the person who is sick, when death is imminent or inevitable. (...) However, this is not tantamount to suicide or euthanasia."

The Netherlands and Belgium allow for some form of euthanasia. In the United States, the state of Oregon legalized assisted suicide in 1994.

Polling Data

Do you think euthanasia, that is, the intentional death of another person in the event of an incurable disease, should be allowed?

Yes	36%
No	57%
Not sure	7%

Source: Datafolha / Folha de Sao Paulo
Methodology: Interviews with 5,700 Brazilian adults, conducted on Mar. 19 and Mar. 20, 2007. Margin of error is 2 per cent.