Table 3

Moral evaluation of different scenarios (details in valid percent, difference at 100% due to rounding)
Dying patient
 Acceptable
 Not acceptable
 Don't know




M
 øM
 M
 øM
 M
 øM
Physical suffering
 Only sedation
 98
 97
 1
 1
 1
 1

Sedation + withdrawal of nutrition
 86
 89
 12
 8
 3
 3

Only withdrawal of nutrition
 92
 95
 6
 5
 3
 0
Physical suffering
 Only sedation
 61
 52
 23
 39
 16
 9

Sedation + withdrawal of nutrition
 55
 44
 29
 46
 16
 10

Only withdrawal of nutrition
 68
 63
 21
 22
 11
 14
Patient with unfavourable prognosis
 Acceptable
 Not acceptable
 Don't know




M
 øM
 M
 øM
 M
 øM
Physical suffering
 Only sedation
 74
 66
 17
 23
 9
 11

Sedation + withdrawal of nutrition
 63
 56
 28
 30
 9
 14

Only withdrawal of nutrition
 78
 71
 17
 22
 5
 7
Mental suffering
 Only sedation
 37
 36
 43
 47
 20
 18

Sedation + withdrawal of nutrition
 32
 27
 48
 52
 20
 21

Only withdrawal of nutrition
 52
 50
 34
 39
 14
 12

M = respondents with a medical background; øM = respondents without a medical background

Simon et al. BMC Palliative Care 2007 6:4   doi:10.1186/1472-684X-6-4