Human euthanasia is not an easy topic to discuss. According to global analytics firm Gallup, 71 percent of people in the United States believe that doctors should be “allowed by law to end the patient’s life by some painless means if the patient and his or her family request it.” While active euthanasia (where the doctor administers the lethal dose) is illegal in the U.S., assisted suicide (where the doctor can offer the lethal dose, but the patient administers it) is legal in 11 U.S. states and Washington D.C. Active euthanasia is legal in countries like Canada, Belgium, Spain, and others. 

We wanted to know what AP Homeschoolers think about this controversial issue. To find out, we asked students to fill out a survey about human euthanasia.

How familiar were students with the topic of euthanasia before receiving the survey?

While human euthanasia has become more and more prevalent in recent years, many students were still largely unfamiliar with the topic as a whole. 39% of respondents (7 students) stated that they had heard of the euthanasia but did not know much about it. 22% (4 students) replied that they had never heard of the issue at all. The remaining 39% stated that they were either somewhat or very familiar with human euthanasia.

To what extent did students believe euthanasia should be legal?

While all but two students surveyed were from the States, their responses differed from the Gallup survey. In PAH!’s survey, respondents were almost equally split on the question of legality. Around 55 percent of respondents (10 students) believed that human euthanasia should not be legal under any circumstances, while 39 percent stated that it should be legal for people with fatal illnesses. In addition, one student believed that euthanasia should be legal for someone with at least an overly painful, hard-to-treat illness, even if non-fatal.

Did students believe people under the age of 18 should be eligible for euthanasia?

For the most part, no. Of the students who believe that euthanasia should be legal under certain circumstances, only one student out of 8 responded that euthanasia should be available for those under the age of 18.

Did students think family members should be informed of their relative's decision to be euthanized?

7 of the 8 students who supported circumstantial legality believed that family members should be informed of their relative’s euthanasia decision. One of those students specified that multiple relatives should be informed before the decision is finalized.

What reasons did students have for their opinions?

Out of the 18 respondents, 10 gave longer, more specific reasoning for their opinions. 4 of these respondents were supporters of circumstantial euthanasia, and 6 were supporters of total illegality. 3 respondents pointed toward religious belief as their reason for opposing euthanasia. However, these students also provided further reasons for illegality, such as Aubrey H., who expressed her belief that “by the act of choosing to keep fighting, a person can impact someone else's life in a positive way.” Many students who disagreed with euthanasia also pointed toward a “slippery slope” that could result from the reasoning behind it where “euthanasia becomes eugenics, and eugenics becomes genocide,” as student Benjamin Caudel argued. Most of the “never legal” students held their view because of their belief that human life is uniquely valuable and should not be willingly taken away, even in suffering or near death.

Students who held the opinion that euthanasia should be legal under certain circumstances stated that people have the right to die painlessly. One student who supported euthanasia for fatal conditions said that “there is no point for a person to live in horrible pain everyday,” and another argued that it is a “personal choice” for terminally ill patients, even if it shouldn’t be available for people under 18.

Select Student Responses:

We have chosen to present in full three of the most well-presented and interesting arguments among the student responses.

AP English Language student Josiah Keup provided support for circumstantial euthanasia through personal experience: I feel that euthanasia should be an option for patients who are guaranteed to die in a long and painful way. My mother was a hospice doctor, and she commonly saw patients who were not going to die yet, but their quality of life was so poor that it was worse to live than to die. These people were incapable of even leaving their beds or feeding themselves, but they still had months before their bodies passed. My mother also saw many patients who were at the point of dying, but their relatives would not allow that to happen, so the patient was forced to live in a state of prolonged purgatory, hooked up to ventilators and medicine. I feel that in cases such as these, if the patient wants euthanasia, it should be allowed to them.

Samantha Choi, a student in AP Comparative Government and Politics, offered a detailed response in opposition to euthanasia that summarizes the “never legal” position as a whole: Euthanasia should never, under any circumstances, be legal. Supporters argue that when someone has a terminal illness with no hope of recovery, euthanasia can end extreme pain and offer "dignity in death." Many believe individuals should have the right to decide what happens to their own bodies and lives, including the choice to end life if they wish. Some say euthanasia can spare loved ones the trauma of watching someone suffer for months or years. However, suffering can be addressed through palliative care and emotional support rather than ending life. Life is sacred and should not be deliberately shortened. Everyone will die naturally at the right time, so no one should try to decrease the length of someone’s life, even their own. When someone wants to end their own life, it signals a deeper problem that needs attention. In some cases, people request euthanasia without having a fatal, cureless illness. One man even requested euthanasia for hearing loss, although his family disagreed. Others have sought euthanasia due to insufficient government support. These examples highlight how subjective and inconsistent the criteria for euthanasia can be, raising serious ethical concerns. This shows the danger of slippery slopes. If euthanasia becomes legal, the criteria could gradually expand beyond terminal illness to include non-life-threatening conditions, mental health struggles, or even social and economic hardship. Once the line is crossed, it becomes harder to draw boundaries, and society may begin to accept the idea that some lives are less worth living than others. That is a risk we cannot afford to take. The sanctity of life must remain a guiding principle in our laws and ethics, even in the face of difficult circumstances. Upholding this principle ensures that every individual is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect, regardless of their condition or situation.

Another student gave support for legality despite personal opposition to the practice: As a Christian, I believe that life is a gift from God, and that it is up to him to decide the length of our lives, therefore, I believe that no one should ever resort to euthanasia. However, I also believe that it is wrong to force people not under the same beliefs as I am to abide by the rules that I do. My conclusion on the use of euthanasia is that I would never resort to euthanasia under any circumstances, but I would not deny others the right to avoid severe physical suffering. I think euthanasia should be available to any adult who is facing imminent death and is suffering severely.

Thank you to all students who responded! We look forward to seeing what students think about more topics in further PAH! issues.

If you want to learn more about euthanasia, take a look at the articles we provided students for this survey:

Disturbing': Experts troubled by Canada’s euthanasia laws | AP News

Death With Dignity | End-Of-Life Advocacy and Policy Reform

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Luke Jordan (opinion/survey editor) is a senior from Ohio. He is taking AP English Literature this year but also enjoys history, music, and going to an occasional hockey game.