---
title: "About 6 in 10 Americans don’t have moral objections to medical aid in dying"
description: "Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to call physician-assisted death morally wrong (48% vs. 23%)."
date: "2026-03-23"
authors:
  - name: "Rebecca Leppert"
    job_title: "Writer/Editor, Religion Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/rebecca-leppert/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/03/23/about-6-in-10-americans-dont-have-moral-objections-to-medical-aid-in-dying/"
categories:
  - "Death & Dying"
  - "Health Care"
  - "Medicine & Health"
  - "Religion & Social Values"
---

# About 6 in 10 Americans don’t have moral objections to medical aid in dying

![scene of bedridden patient, focus on hand of illness's relative holding hands elderly hopeless senior male with infectious disease, concept of nursing home care or medical treatment in hospital ward](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/03/SR_26.03.23_aid-in-dying_featured.jpg?w=640)
*(petra012015 via Getty Images)*

[Illinois](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-to-legalize-physician-assisted-death-after-gov-pritzker-signs-bill/3862186/) and [New York](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/new-york-governor-signs-law-allowing-medical-aid-dying-terminally-ill-residents-2026-02-07/) recently joined 11 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing people with serious illnesses to end their lives with a doctor’s help. While [most states](https://deathwithdignity.org/states/) still ban physician-assisted death, a majority of Americans see the practice as morally permissible or don’t consider it a moral issue, according to a recent [Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/19/what-do-americans-consider-immoral/).

About six-in-ten Americans say that patients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor is either morally acceptable (34%) or not a moral issue (29%). Another 35% say it’s morally wrong, according to the survey, which was conducted in spring 2025.

Physician-assisted death is also sometimes called “medical aid in dying,” “doctor-assisted death” or “physician-assisted suicide.” (Refer to the terminology box for more details.)

**About this research**

This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans’ views of physician-assisted death as more states legalize the practice.

**Why did we do this? **

The Center does high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and leaders. This analysis builds on a larger body of work that explores questions around [morality](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religion-and-views-of-right-and-wrong/), [death and dying](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/other-topics/death-dying/), and [religion and politics](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/politics-policy/demographics-politics/religion-politics-3/) in the United States.

[Learn more about Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/about/).

**How did we do this? **

We surveyed 8,937 U.S. adults from May 5 to 11, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP). The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population. [Read more about the ATP’s methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/the-american-trends-panel/).

Here are our [survey questions](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/03/PR_2026.03.19_us-morality_topline.pdf), along with responses, and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/19/methodology-us-morality/).

**Terminology**

Our survey asked respondents about the morality of “patients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor.” Throughout this analysis, we use “physician-assisted death” as shorthand. Terminology used to describe this issue is often politicized, so we tried to use as neutral a term as possible.

Language around this topic is [also shifting](https://jme.bmj.com/content/51/10/657.full#:~:text=8%2010%20After%202006%2C%20the,View%20popup). One common term, “physician-assisted suicide,” is now often used by groups who [oppose](https://www.cathmed.org/the-pulse/cma-impact-helps-stop-ama-assisted-suicide-resolutions/) the practice, including the [American Medical Association](https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/ethics-opinions/physician-assisted-suicide).

Other health organizations don’t categorize the practice as suicide. The American Psychological Association (which [officially takes a neutral stance](https://www.apa.org/about/policy/assisted-dying-resolution)) prefers the term “assisted dying,” while the American Association of Suicidology [distinguishes the practice](https://ohiooptions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AAS-PAD-Statement-Approved-10.30.17-ed-10-30-17.pdf) from suicide.

Modern-day [advocates](https://deathwithdignity.org/about/), meanwhile, often refer to “death with dignity” or “the right to die.”

Attitudes toward physician-assisted death vary by political party, as they do on most of [the 15 behaviors we asked about](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/19/what-do-americans-consider-immoral/pr_2026-03-19_us-morality_0-02/) in our surveys on moral issues.

### Republicans split on morality of physician-assisted death, while Democrats largely see it as permissible

*% who say patients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor is …*

|  | Morally wrong | Morally acceptable | Not a moral issue | TOTAL Not morally wrong |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| U.S. adults | 35% | 34% | 29% | 63% |
| Rep/lean Rep | 48% | 27% | 25% | 51% |
| >Conservative | 55% | 22% | 21% | 43% |
| >Moderate/liberal | 34% | 35% | 30% | 65% |
| Dem/lean Dem | 23% | 43% | 33% | 76% |
| >Conservative/moderate | 32% | 34% | 33% | 68% |
| >Liberal | 12% | 55% | 32% | 87% |

Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Figures may not add to subtotals due to rounding.

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 5-11, 2025.

About three-quarters of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents see physician-assisted death as morally acceptable (43%) or as a moral nonissue (33%). By comparison, only about half of Republicans and GOP leaners take those positions. Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to call the practice *morally* *wrong* (48% vs. 23%).

Physician-assisted death has been hotly debated in the United States since at least the 1990s, when Oregon passed the country’s first “[Death with Dignity](https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/providerpartnerresources/evaluationresearch/deathwithdignityact/pages/faqs.aspx)” bill. The practice aims to grant terminally ill patients more control over suffering at the end of life, though it has often raised questions around [consent](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/09/science/medically-assisted-dying-laws.html) and [eligibility](https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/2024/3/25/should-those-suffering-from-mental-illness-be-eligible-for-medically-assisted-death). Some religious leaders also have [condemned](https://www.christianpost.com/news/sarah-mullally-speaks-out-against-assisted-suicide.html) it as [immoral](https://www.hli.org/resources/hippocratic-oath-euthanasia/) or [unethical](https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/resolution-on-euthanasia-and-assisted-suicide/).

### Majorities across several religious groups say physician-assisted death is morally permissible

*% who say patients choosing to end their lives with the help of a doctor is …*

|  | Morally wrong | Morally acceptable | Not a moral issue | TOTAL Not morally wrong |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Religiously affiliated | 44% | 28% | 26% | 54% |
| Protestant | 48% | 26% | 25% | 51% |
| > White evang. Prot. | 60% | 18% | 20% | 38% |
| > White Prot., not evang. | 25% | 46% | 28% | 74% |
| > Black Protestant | 52% | 18% | 30% | 48% |
| Catholic | 40% | 31% | 27% | 59% |
| Jewish | 23% | 53% | 23% | 76% |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 12% | 51% | 36% | 87% |
| Atheist | 5% | 66% | 29% | 95% |
| Agnostic | 6% | 63% | 30% | 93% |
| Nothing in particular | 17% | 39% | 41% | 80% |
| Among those who say religion is __ important in their life | Very | 59% | 17% | 22% |
| 39% | Somewhat | 31% | 36% | 32% |
| 67% | Not too | 14% | 52% | 33% |
| 85% | Not at all | 8% | 56% | 36% |
| 91% |

Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Figures may not add to subtotals due to rounding.

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 5-11, 2025.

Our latest survey data shows that most U.S. Jews (76%) and White nonevangelical Protestants (74%) see the practice as morally permissible, as do a majority of Catholics (59%), even though [Catholic doctrine prohibits](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20200714_samaritanus-bonus_en.html#The_prohibition) medical assistance in dying.

The vast majority of religiously unaffiliated adults, including 95% of atheists and 93% of agnostics, express no moral opposition to the practice.

On the other hand, 60% of White evangelical Protestants and 52% of Black Protestants say it’s *morally wrong* for patients to end their lives with medical aid.

In general, adults who are highly religious tend to take a stronger stance against medical assistance in dying. For example, Americans who say religion is very important in their lives (59%) are far more likely than those who say religion is personally not too important (14%) or not at all important (8%) to see physician-assisted death as morally wrong.

*Note: Here are our [survey questions](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/03/PR_2026.03.19_us-morality_topline.pdf), along with responses, and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/19/methodology-us-morality/).*