40 per cent Australians support euthanasia: Study

8220;Clearly,many Australians are interested in having a choice at the end of their life,8221; AA chief executive Glenn Rees said.

He said,8221;Many Australians obviously want more choice in terms of advanced directives and making decisions about where they die,whether they want to have antibiotics,whether they want to be force fed,whether they want to be hydrated,within the current law.8221;

8220;That8217;s one set of options people have 8230; but there are also many people obviously interested in thinking about options like euthanasia.8221;

The survey was conducted on 2,505 respondents and was undertaken in October last year. While it focused on dementia,respondents were asked what they would want if they were terminally ill with only a few weeks to live.

Over half 54 per cent said they would want to write 8220;advance care directives8221; while still mentally competent that would 8220;determine the care options that were best suited to them8221; into the future.

Almost the same number 53 per cent said these directives should be able to include an option to 8220;refuse all treatment even if this meant they would die sooner8221;,while 42 per cent would 8220;take the option of euthanasia if available.8221;

Euthanasia is not legal in the country.