Flemington, NJ, June 6, 2007 – The results of a national study of 560 physicians revealed that while half of all physicians (50%) would not assist a patient in suicide for any reason, among religious affiliation, half of all groups indicated some level of support for legalization in the U.S.  

The communications research study was conducted by HCD Research, using its mediacurves.com web site, during June 5-6, to obtain physicians’ views on an interview with Dr. Kevorkian on Larry King Live on June 4, during which he expressed his views on physician-assisted suicide.
 
While viewing video segments of the Dr. Kevorkian interview, physicians indicated their levels of agreement by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses are recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves.
To view agreement curves and detailed results among religious affiliation, go to: www.mediacurves.com 

Participants were asked pre- and post-viewing questions regarding their opinions on physician-assisted suicide. Those surveyed represented physicians from Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox Christian and other), Jewish (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and secular).

Among the study findings:

• After viewing segments from the interview, among all responders, 50% reported that they would not assist a patient in suicide, while 34% indicated that would assist a patient in a few cases, but would not in most cases.

• Among religious affiliation, 65% of Catholics reported that they would not assist a patient in suicide, while 26% indicated they would assist a patient in a few cases. Conversely, among Jewish responders, 35% reported that they would not assist a patient in suicide and 48% indicated that they would in a few cases. Similar to Catholics, 64% of Protestants reported they would not assist a patient in suicide and 28% reported that they would in a few cases.

• On the issue of legalization, among all responders, a clear majority (69%), expressed some level of support for legalizing physician-assisted suicide, compared to an overwhelming majority of Jewish responders (91%), half of all Catholic responders (53%) and a similar percentage of Protestant responders (52%). 

The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.
 
HCD Research specializes in conducting communications research for the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, financial and entertainment industries, among others.
Headquartered in Flemington, NJ, the company's services include traditional and web-based communications research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393. 

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, managing partner, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).