AnyInfo.com

ELDR Magazine's "Right To Die" National Survey: Should Your Doctor Help You Die?

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 15, 2008 -- ELDR magazine and ELDR.com (http://www.eldr.com) today released the results of a national survey of adults on the "right to die" issue or what some call "physician-assisted suicide." The survey showed that over 80 percent believe the choice to end one's life is a personal decision, with two-thirds of adults saying they want physician-assisted "death with dignity" legal, as in Oregon.

The ELDR Magazine "Right To Die" National Survey, conducted by Knowledge Networks and statistically projectable to the U.S. adult population, also revealed that only half of adults over 60 have a living will or advance health care directive. These legal documents specify what a person's wishes are if, for example, they are in a persistent vegetative state. Such a document could have prevented the prolonged and agonizing situation the family of Florida woman Terri Schiavo endured.

The survey is in conjunction with ELDR's Summer issue cover article, "Perfect Ending," which tells the story and reflections of a physician who had clandestinely given patients, who were terminally ill and in great physical pain, the means to end their lives. The physician profiled is not identified.

"A painful or prolonged death is something everyone worries about," said Dave Bunnell, editor-in-chief of ELDR. "Yet too few of us plan ahead to be prepared for this possibility. Our survey is telling people if they act now, they can be in charge. You don't have to leave this entirely to fate."

The ELDR survey comes as Washington state proponents gather signatures for a voter initiative which, if successful, would make that state the second after Oregon to legalize physician-assisted "death with dignity." 225,000 valid voter signatures need to be presented to Washington state officials by July 3 for the I-1000 initiative to appear on the November 2008 ballot.

Other results from the ELDR Magazine "Right To Die" National Survey include:

* Half of American adults (49.1 percent) have parents, close relatives or friends in their senior years for whom they might eventually be considered a guardian caretaker or legal trustee.

* 82 percent want the option, if they were suffering at end-of-life, of being sedated into unconsciousness, even though this might hasten their death.

* 93.6 percent want artificial life support stopped if they were in a persistent vegetative state, where mental functioning had ceased and it was highly unlikely they would regain consciousness.

* Fewer than 25 percent have a living will or advance health care directive which states their wishes if they were incapacitated or in persistent vegetative state. Only half of those over 60 do.

Complete survey results can be found at http://www.eldr.com.

Survey Methodology: This survey of 1,070 U.S. adults was conducted for ELDR by Knowledge Networks and is statistically projectable to the U.S. population. The survey was conducted between March 13 and March 25, 2008 using Knowledge Network's statistically valid, random probability online consumer panel. The sampling margin of error is ± 4.7 percent for all respondents; ± 5.9 percent for the 20-59 age bracket and ± 5.0 percent for the 60-plus age bracket.

ELDR Magazine Cover: The cover of ELDR's Summer issue features a photograph of elder model Olga Barber, simulating lying in repose seemingly after a pleasant death experience. ELDR was recently chosen from among 700 new magazines as one of the 15 "Hottest Magazine Launches" of 2007 by Media Industry Newsletter (MIN) and University of Mississippi professor Samir Husni, "Mr. Magazine."

About ELDR Media: ELDR is a media company which seeks to inspire the affluent elder to live a more meaningful life, to celebrate the joys and to navigate the challenges of aging. ELDR is the first media company targeting the 60-plus active and affluent demographic. ELDR was founded by senior housing innovator Chad Lewis and pioneering magazine editor and entrepreneur David Bunnell. ELDR Media LLC is headquartered in Berkeley, California. Visit ELDR online at http://www.eldr.com.

# # #

MORE ARTICLES:

Self Help For Driving Test Nerves
A valid drivers license is what you must have to be able to ride on the roads For getting an official license one is supposed to pass in the driving tests conducted by the officials

Franchise-Guide.Org - Launches The Most Comprehensive Online Guide For Free Franchising Information
The main objective of launching http://www.franchise-guide.org is to provide Free Franchise Consultation to clients in order to save their time, money and potential aggravation. They are never charged any money as fees for consultation service are paid by the franchisors who respect the processes Franchise-Guide.Org follows and recognize the quality of the clients they refer to them, after consultations are complete.

Free Debt Consolidation Advice ? For Debt Free Life
Many people are stuck with loans and credit card balances today not knowing how to payback. Timely advice or proper guidance can help relive them of unnecessary frustration caused due to loans and debts.

Seven Keys To Success In The Information Age
In 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down and the World Wide Web went up, the world changed forever. This marked the end of the Industrial Age and the beginning of the Information Age.

How A Heloc Can Better Help You With Your Home Improvements
Making improvements to your home can be both fulfilling and yet expensive. By doing the project right, it can add many thousands of dollars to the value of your home. Getting the money, however and knowing the best and least expensive way to do it, can be more than a little confusing. One type of mortgage - a home equity line of credit, or HELOC, however, may be just the tool you need to get access to the equity in your home.

Afilias and CERT-In Sign MoU to Improve Internet Security in India: Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing Will Help Emergency Response to Internet Secu
Afilias, a global provider of registry services, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to share critical information and resources to enhance Internet security in India and world-wide, increase awareness of important security issues, and to cooperate in emergency response to critical threats.

Web designing is the art & process of creating web sites for online information
Web designing is the art and process of creating a single Web page or entire Web sites and may involve both the aesthetics and the mechanics of a Web site's operation although primarily it focuses on the look and feel of the Web site - the design elements.

Searching For Free Legitimate Work From Home Opportunities: Where to Begin
There are thousands of work from home opportunities available today, thanks to the advancement of technology that allows us to efficiently access the internet These home based businesses offer advantages such as flexibility, personal freedom and financial freedom

Hydrogen Powered Cars To Paying For Horse Power.
Hydrogen is also a very abundant element. While current methods for making hydrogen are done by using fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, and oil, American wouldnt be dependent on foreign oil anymore. Also, hydrogen can be extracted from water, and we all know theres a lot of water on this planet.

Promote Any MLM Or Affiliate Program With Free E-Books
Viral promotions are one the best methods of marketing a product or service online. One of the easiest viral marketing methods is the use of giving away free ebooks that contain valuable information. Enticing a prospect with free information on the front offers a non-confrontational method to get your prospect to take action. It builds a trusting relationship with your customer as you communicate with them in the e-book and future follow-up messages. Due to this fact they are more likely to purchase from you in the future as opposed to just promoting your product or service on the front end.

Scam And Scheme Free Advertising For Your Business Web Site
Since I own my own business web site and have looked for many ways to advertise cheap and for free, I have noticed how many sites there are out there that will try to get you to either join or buy advertising in one form or another. There are sites out there that will promise you the moon if you either join their "viral marketing" scheme or site that will cause your email box to become inundated with email ads from others who have fell for this.

Sex Stats
The next time you're at a party and there's a lull in the conversation rather than trying to fill the gap with your knowledge of sports statistics, sitcom trivia or movie tidbits wow your listeners with this amazing array of info on everyone's favourite subject: SEX!Mighty Mr. WillieSizeThere's a great variety in the size of flaccid penises, but there's less difference when they're hard because smaller penises enlarge more during erection.

LegalView Announces the Future Launch of a New Information Portal with Details on Erb's Palsy and Potential Causes
LegalView announced an Erb's Palsy practice area detailing potential causes of the condition, which affects millions of Americans. Erb's Palsy is usually caused during complications at birth and can affect the nerves in child's limbs.

Feeling Your Values: New Free Online Tool Helps People Identify and Live Their Values
Digital Value Sorter (http://www.6seconds.org/eqsurvey2) is a new, free online tool that helps people identify their values and reflect on how their daily choices align with their core values.