?Decisions about the end of life and religious beliefs: opinions and attitudes towards death and euthanasia in Argentina?

ESQUIVEL, JUAN CRUZ; IRRAZÁBAL, GABRIELA

Revista Latinoamericana de Bioética

Universidad Militar Nueva Granada

Lugar: Bogotá; Año: 2021

1657-4702

In this paper we analyze the opinions and attitudes about the end of life among thepopulation residing in Argentina. The data presented are taken from the Second NationalSurvey of Religious Beliefs and Attitudes in Argentina, which was conducted on a multi-stage sample of 2421 cases in 89 districts throughout the country. Opinions about the endof life include positions in favor of performing euthanasia, requesting life extensionthrough life support technologies and leaving death to the will of God. Religious beliefsand affiliations prove to be determining variables in the positions taken by Argentinecitizens regarding the end of life, death and euthanasia. Furthermore, among thosewithout any religious affiliation, positions of autonomy over their bodies stand out, in thedirections of both prolonging their lives and bringing them to an end, which means thattheir support of euthanasia can be assumed. The data presented here intend to contributeto the planning of health policies in relation to the end-of-life process. The different viewson this process or, in other words, the beliefs, values and needs ​​of patients and theirfamilies have a unique relevance that must be considered in the organization of caresettings in end-of-life contexts.