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Disparity in attitudes regarding assisted dying among physicians and the general public in Japan
Yoshiyuki Takimoto, Tadanori Nabeshima. BMC Medical Ethics, 2025-01-20
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The findings revealed that Japanese physicians did not display support for euthanasia (2%) and assisted suicide (1%); however, the general public supported euthanasia (33%) and assisted suicide (34%). Notably, among the general public, males exhibited significantly higher support for PAS than females. Japanese physicians and the general public expressed a more negative stance towards VAE and PAS compared with their counterparts in Western countries. This disparity may be attributed to the influence of the Buddhist view of life and death and family-centeredness in the Japanese culture, which affects people's attitudes towards assisted dying. The gap between physicians and the general public could potentially lead to challenges in medical practice, thereby, necessitating the need for open discussions in the future.
Key findings
- The findings revealed that Japanese physicians did not display support for euthanasia (2%) and assisted suicide (1%); however, the general public supported euthanasia (33%) and assisted suicide (34%).
- Notably, among the general public, males exhibited significantly higher support for PAS than females.
- Japanese physicians and the general public expressed a more negative stance towards VAE and PAS compared with their counterparts in Western countries.
- This disparity may be attributed to the influence of the Buddhist view of life and death and family-centeredness in the Japanese culture, which affects people's attitudes towards assisted dying.
- The gap between physicians and the general public could potentially lead to challenges in medical practice, thereby, necessitating the need for open discussions in the future.
Why it matters
This study examined attitudes toward assisted dying among Japanese physicians and the general public, finding physicians were far less supportive than the public. It does not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC Medical Ethics) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | BMC Medical Ethics: journal h-index 93 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Tadanori Nabeshima: h-index 5 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Tokyo: institution h-index 1,463 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39833823) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s12910-025-01166-9
- PubMed: 39833823
- Original source →
- Free full text: BMC Medical Ethics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Takimoto, Y., & Nabeshima, T. (2025). Disparity in attitudes regarding assisted dying among physicians and the general public in Japan. BMC Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01166-9
Vancouver
Takimoto Y, Nabeshima T. Disparity in attitudes regarding assisted dying among physicians and the general public in Japan. BMC Medical Ethics. 2025. doi:10.1186/s12910-025-01166-9. PMID: 39833823.
BibTeX
@article{takimoto2025-39833823,
author = {Takimoto, Yoshiyuki and Nabeshima, Tadanori},
title = {{Disparity in attitudes regarding assisted dying among physicians and the general public in Japan}},
journal = {BMC Medical Ethics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s12910-025-01166-9},
pmid = {39833823},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01166-9}
}
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