Table 1.

Taxonomy used for classifying physicians’ and nurses’ motives for being willing or for performing euthanasia (Adapted from Cane et al.[12])

Theoretical domain	Definition	Example applied to the field of euthanasia
1. Knowledge	An awareness of information related to a given behavior.	Knowing the criteria for being admissible for euthanasia in countries where it is legalized.
2. Skills	An ability to perform a certain act.	Having the skills needed to perform voluntary euthanasia.
3. Social/professional role and identity	How one perceives s/he should act according to his/her social and professional identity.	Perceiving euthanasia as compatible with a caregiver’s role.
4. Beliefs about capabilities	A perceived capacity to adopt a given behavior.	Perceiving being able to perform voluntary euthanasia.
5. Beliefs about consequences	Perceived anticipated consequences of adopting the behavior.	Anticipating that euthanasia will have positive consequences for the patient, such as relieving him/her of pain.
6. Social influences	How one perceives others would react if s/he adopted a given behavior (i.e., approval or disapproval).	Perceiving that the patient’s family would approve if the physician euthanized his/her patient.
7. Emotions	Feelings arising at the thought of adopting the behavior or following behavioral adoption.	Feeling guilty or being afraid at the thought of performing euthanasia.
8. Moral norm*	How a given behavior is perceived according to one’s personal and moral values.	Perceiving euthanasia as compatible with one’s personal and moral values.
9. Past behavior*	Past experience with a given behavior.	Having already performed euthanasia in the past.

*Moral norm and past behavior were added to Cane et al.’s [12] original taxonomy.