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Euthanasia is often defined as mercy killing, a humane way for assisted suicide, or simply allowing a person to die by removing life support to stop suffering. It is a very controversial issue and explicitly banned in most countries, including China.
On the other hand, a recent poll has revealed that about two-thirds of Chinese respondents are tolerant and open-minded about the issue of euthanasia. It is still a contentious issue in China that has long been debated but currently prohibited. The debate remains to be academic in nature but may soon find resurgence in the political circles.
Based on the recent survey conducted by a research institution at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, approximately 70 percent of the 3,400 respondents who were sampled among 34 cities have indicated that they are not against euthanasia and consider it acceptable in many circumstances.
The randomized survey result was published last week. It was conducted via a computer-assisted phone interview that chose representative samples from the 34 cities. The director of the research center, Zhong Yang, has pointed out that euthanasia is a global social issue, and it is notable that the general attitude of the Chinese people about euthanasia has changed over the years. Many more Chinese people desire a painless end of their life at their own accord.
Culturally speaking, the topic of death has always been a taboo. Although there are different words for death in various Chinese dialects, the word itself is seldom mentioned in ordinary conversations. Uttering the term is traditionally considered bad luck. This is reflected in the way people treat loved ones who are suffering from terminal illnesses. Most Chinese will spend and even exhaust their fortunes and resources on medical expenses just to extend the life of loved ones for even a brief moment. The recent survey seems to counter the long-standing taboo of talking about death.
