Public reasoning about voluntary assisted dying : An analysis of submissions to the Queensland Parliament, Australia
Journal article
Kirchhoffer, David G. and Lui, Chi-Wai. (2021). Public reasoning about voluntary assisted dying : An analysis of submissions to the Queensland Parliament, Australia. Bioethics. 35(1), pp. 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12777
Authors | Kirchhoffer, David G. and Lui, Chi-Wai |
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Abstract | The use of voluntary assisted dying as an end-of-life option has stimulated concerns and debates over the past decades. Although public attitudes towards voluntary assisted dying (including euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide) are well researched, there has been relatively little study of the different reasons, normative reasoning and rhetorical strategies that people invoke in supporting or contesting voluntary assisted dying in everyday life. Using a mix of computational textual mining techniques, keyword study and qualitative thematic coding to analyse public submissions to a parliamentary inquiry into voluntary assisted dying in Australia, this study critically examines the different reasons, normative reasoning and rhetorical strategies that people invoke in supporting or contesting voluntary assisted dying in everyday life. The analysis identified complex and potentially contradictory ethical principles being invoked on both sides of the debate. These findings deepen our understanding of the moral basis of public reasoning about end-of-life matters and will help to inform future discussions on policy and law reform. The findings underscore the importance of sound normative reasoning and the use of caution when interpreting opinion polls to inform policy. |
Keywords | assisted suicide; euthanasia; public; reasoning; reasons; voluntary assisted dying |
Year | 2021 |
Journal | Bioethics |
Journal citation | 35 (1), pp. 105-116 |
Publisher | Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
ISSN | 0269-9702 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12777 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85089526220 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 105-116 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 19 Aug 2020 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 08 May 2020 |
Deposited | 03 Aug 2021 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8w720/public-reasoning-about-voluntary-assisted-dying-an-analysis-of-submissions-to-the-queensland-parliament-australia
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Publisher's version
Kirchhoffer_2021_Public_reasoning_about_voluntary_assisted_dying.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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