Table 5.

Reasons why doctors should stop or continue intensive care interventions

Reasons why doctors should stop intensive care interventions	Agree* n/total N (%)	Disagree* n/total N (%)
He is dead	1,391/1,599 (87.0%)	208/1,599 (13.0%)
Even though his heart and lungs are still working, it is only due to machines and intensive care medications	1,515/1,599 (94.7%)	84/1,599 (5.3%)
His brain is too badly damaged for him to survive	1,522/1,599 (95.2%)	77/1,599 (4.8%)
If brain function is completely and permanently lost, then his quality of life would be poor	1,531/1,599 (95.7%)	68/1,599 (4.3%)

Reasons why doctors should continue intensive care interventions	Agree* n/total N (%)	Disagree* n/total N (%)
He has a beating heart, even though his brain is dead	293/401 (73.1%)	108/401 (26.9%)
There is always a chance of recovery	254/401 (63.3%)	147/401 (36.7%)
Stopping this would cause his death	344/401 (85.8%)	57/401 (14.2%)

*Responses of agree or unsure but probably agree were categorized as agree; responses of disagree or unsure but probably disagree were categorized as disagree