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Public reasoning about voluntary assisted dying : An analysis of submissions to the Queensland Parliament, Australia
Kirchhoffer, David G. Lui, Chi-Wai
Kirchhoffer, David G.
Lui, Chi-Wai
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
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
Bioethics
Book
Volume
35
Issue
1
Page Range
105-116
Article Number
ACU Department
Queensland Bioethics Centre
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open