85% of Australians are in favour of doctors being able to give a lethal dose of medication if requested by a hopelessly ill patient experiencing unrelievable suffering.

This statement is based on responses in Australia to the following Newspoll (2009) question:

"If a hopelessly ill patient, experiencing unrelievable suffering, with absolutely no chance of recovering, asks for a lethal dose, so as not to wake again, should a doctor be allowed to give a lethal dose or not ?"

And in a Newspoll survey February 2007, 80%+ of Australians were in favour of Physician Assisted Dying (PAD), only 14% opposed.

The poll revealed an even more startling jump in NSW, where support rose from 75% in 2007 to 87% this year, with just 10% opposed. The survey, which was commissioned by Dying with Dignity NSW, found support among 18-34 year-olds was 87%.

With such massive support across the country, the results of this poll send a message to the country’s lawmakers that the time has come for a full debate on the issue.