Potential interest of the elderly in active euthanasia.

As part of a larger study, elderly applicants to institutions and elderly residents of the community were questioned on their potential interest in active euthanasia. Of these, 19 percent and 23 percent respectively said they would want a lethal injection. A further ten and nine percent respectively said they would want a lethal pill, if ever hopelessly ill. Most elderly community residents who would prefer to carry on as best as they could nevertheless thought that alternatives should be available to those wanting them.