FIGURE 4.

Perceptions of whether pacemaker (PM) therapy should be withdrawn at the end of life on the basis of a patient's right to refuse. Shown is the percentage of medical professionals, legal professionals, and patients who thought that PM therapy should be withdrawn on the basis of the patient's right to refuse further therapy in a PM-dependent vs non–PM-dependent patient. Although most medical professionals, legal professionals, and patients thought that therapy should be withdrawn in either group, significantly fewer medical professionals and patients thought that PM withdrawal was appropriate when the patient was PM-dependent than when they were not (P<.001). However, the perception of legal professionals did not differ significantly with regard to device dependence. The actual percentage for each group is listed above the respective bar.