Letter to the Editor

Worship Attendance Frequency

Authors: Joseph K. Neumann, PhD, Kenneth E. Olive, MD, Arthur R. Ellis, PhD

Abstract

Essinger 1 reported that three primary factors influence the attitudes of Tennessee physicians toward euthanasia and assisted death: ethics, religion, and the role of the physician in relieving pain and suffering. Those physicians with strong self-reported theistic religious values were less approving of euthanasia or assisted death than were those without such values. Gartner et al 2 found that “real-life” behavioral variables such as church attendance or financial giving were better indices of religiosity than self-report measures.

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References

1. Essinger D. Attitudes of Tennessee physicians toward euthanasia and assisted death. South Med J 2003; 96: 427–435.
 
2. Gartner J, Larson DB, Allen GD. Religious commitment and mental health: A review of the empirical literature. J Psychol Theol 1991; 19: 6–25.
 
3. Neumann JK, Olive KE. Absolute versus relative values: Effects on family practitioners and psychiatrists. South Med J 2003; 96: 452–457.
 
4. Koenig HG, McCullough ME, Larson DB. Handbook of Religion and Health. New York, Oxford University Press, 2001.