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Objective: To examine practitioners' opinions on palliative care., Method: Statistical analyses were carried out on data collected from 1000 physicians recruited to participate in a study on knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to palliative care ("Palliative Care 2002"). A cluster analysis (CAH) was conducted based on responses to nine questions in order to identify homogeneous and contrasting profiles of opinions on palliative care., Results: Two distinctly different categories of profiles emerged. The first one had a restrictive approach to palliative care (n = 387; 38.7%), while the second one supported its expansion (n = 613; 61.3%)., Conclusion: A newly revised communication campaign which favoured and recognised palliative care could assist in the dissemination of related practices among physicians.

Objectives: To evaluate opinion of physicians about the legalization of euthanasia according to their professional characteristics, their attitudes toward morphine, their attitudes toward communication with end-of-life patients, and their perception of specific types of terminal care., Method: Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out from data collected among 1.000 general practitioners, oncologists, neurologists and HIV specialists (French cross-sectional survey on palliative care, 2002)., Results: 42.5% of physicians agreed with the statement that euthanasia should be legalized as it is already the case in the Netherlands. Inadequate prescription of morphine and calling terminal sedation as active euthanasia were associated with a favorable opinion toward legalization of euthanasia., Conclusion: Specific training on pain management and terminal sedation would help physicians to have a better view of the problem of euthanasia.

Objective: Assess the attitude of the practitioners with regard to the management of patients at the end of their lives, depending on the physician/patient communication and treatment of pain. Method Statistical analysis of the data collected among 1,000 practitioners recruited for a survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding palliative care in 2002., Results: The practitioners who felt "ill at ease" in the management of patients at the end of their life often had a poor opinion regarding morphine and did not systematically their patients of the therapeutic aims., Conclusion: Greater awareness by the practitioners of palliative care would help to improve the quality of care supplied to terminally ill patients.