The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec released their euthanasia survey on October 13, 2009. It reported that 76 per cent of specialists were in favour of passing a bill like C-384 that would make euthanasia legal and was used as evidence that doctors in Quebec fully support C-384.
The survey is flawed for two main reasons:
The Fédération states that:
This gives the impression that the Fédération can make definitive statements on behalf of their membership based on this survey. Yet, calculations based on the 23 per cent response rate indicate roughly 17 to 19 per cent support these two statements. Other findings of the survey show just the opposite:
The majority of Fédération members do not understand palliative sedation because they have not been trained as palliative care consultants. [7] The experts in death and dying are not part of the specialist’s federation, but of the federation of general practitioners (FMOQ).
The low response rate and the lack of inclusion of palliative consultants mean that this survey does not accurately represent Quebec doctors. In order to ascertain medical opinions on Bill C-384 in Quebec, another survey designed to overcome these obstacles needs to be conducted.
[1] Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec. (September 13, 2009). Euthanasia: The Key Points of the FMSQ Survey, press release. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.fmsq.org/e/centredepresse/communiques/coms/20091013.html
[2] Personal communication with Dr. Bernard Lapointe, October 28, 2009
[3] Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec. Euthanasia: Key Points.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Personal communication with Dr. Bernard Lapointe, October 28, 2009
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