The Right to Choose at the End of Life: Opinions, Experiences, and Perceptions of the Italian Population Regarding Euthanasia. An Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION Euthanasia has long been at the center of extensive debate at the social, political, legal, and religious levels, assuming an increasingly significant role within the contemporary end-of-life context. To analyze the attitudes of the Italian population toward euthanasia using the Euthanasia Attitude Scale (EAS) as the primary assessment tool.

Methods

An observational, cross-sectional investigation was conducted between December 2025 and February 2026 by sharing the online questionnaire through major social media platforms and messaging applications, including Facebook and Instagram.

Results

A total of 4,968 participants agreed to participate. Results indicated that factors such as religion, educational level, and age significantly influenced opinions on euthanasia. In particular, lower levels of religious participation combined with higher educational attainment were associated with greater acceptance of the practice. Women tended to be more involved in caregiving activities and were more frequently exposed to end-of-life issues; these factors could foster greater sensitivity and awareness, and increased participation in studies addressing such topics. IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT Our results highlighted the need for greater informational clarity, as a proportion of the population experienced difficulty in distinguishing between euthanasia, medically assisted suicide, and the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments. Case managers are in an arena to help move these discussions.