Doctors Overwhelmingly Support Ethics of Removing Feeding Tube

FLEMINGTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2005--In a survey of 851 U.S. physicians conducted by HCD Research and The Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies during March 18 - 20, physicians overwhelmingly affirmed that it is ethical to remove the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo.

Results of the study indicated:

“Religious communities are divided in their evaluations of active euthanasia--and for good reason. We must proceed very cautiously here.”

-- Seventy-seven (77%) percent of responders answered yes to the question:

"Do you feel it is medically ethical to remove Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube?

-- Seventy-nine (79%) said it was medically ethical to "to remove a feeding tube from a person for whom that feeding tube -- and possibly other artificial methods -- is undoubtedly their only means of staying alive?"

-- The majority of physicians (83%) felt that a patient's spouse, immediate family (65%) and peer review physicians (61%) should be required by law to be involved in a decision to remove a feeding tube from a patient for whom the tube is their only means for staying alive.

-- A minority believed that professional ethicists (30%), psychiatrists (12%), clergy (11%), lawmakers/Congress (6%) should be required by law to be involved in such a decision.

"Physicians believe that, in general, it is ethical to remove feeding tubes in patients for whom it is their only means of life support," commented Glenn Kessler, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of HCD. "Apparently, with respect to this specific case, a significant majority of doctors agree that removing the feeding tube from Ms. Schiavo is medically ethical."

"From a religious point of view, it is troubling that physicians are not more reluctant," noted Alan Mittleman, Director of the Finkelstein Institute. "Religious communities are divided in their evaluations of active euthanasia--and for good reason. We must proceed very cautiously here."

Details of the results can be viewed at: http://www.hcdsurveys.com/schiavo/

This study follows a survey reported on March 3, 2005 regarding physician assisted suicide. This earlier study was conducted in response to the Supreme Court's decision to hear a challenge to Oregon's Death with Dignity act -- the nation's only law on behalf of physician assisted suicide -- the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Social and Religious Research and HCD Research conducted the survey of physicians during the last week of February.

The findings indicated that a plurality of physicians polled (41%) endorse the legalization of physician assisted suicide under a wide variety of circumstances, while 30% support its legalization in a few cases only and 29% oppose legalizing it in all cases.

The press release for this study can be viewed at http://www.hcdi.net/press/Suicide.html

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the poll, or to speak with Dr. Mittleman, Director of the Finkelstein Institute, or Glenn Kessler, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, M&M Communications, Inc., at 908-638-5555 or [e-mail].

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based marketing and communications research. HCD Research is also the developer of readmylipz.com, a political ad testing web site for the 2004 Presidential campaign. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.

The Finkelstein Institute provides a venue to advance dialogue at the intersection of religion and public affairs. Founded in 1886 as a rabbinical school, The Jewish Theological Seminary today is the academic and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism worldwide, encompassing a world-class library and five schools. JTS trains tomorrow's religious, educational, academic and lay leaders for the Jewish community and beyond. Visit the JTS website at www.jtsa.edu