Table 1.

 The four end‐of‐life Decision Scenarios

Decision Scenario #1: No Drugs (Less‐Intense Option) vs. Life‐Extending Drugs (More‐Intense Option)
Suppose that you had a very serious illness. Imagine that no one knew exactly how long you would live, but your doctors said you almost certainly would live less than 1 year. To deal with that illness, do you think you would want drugs that might lengthen your life beyond 1 year – for about 30 additional days – but would make you feel worse?
Decision Scenario #2: No Drugs (Less‐Intense Option) vs. Quality‐of‐Life Enhancing Drugs (More‐Intense Option)
Suppose that you had a very serious illness. Imagine that no one knew exactly how long you would live, but your doctors said you almost certainly would live less than 1 year. If that illness got to a point that you were feeling bad all the time, do you think you would want drugs that would make you feel better, but might shorten your life by a month?
Decision Scenario #3: No Respirator (Less‐Intense Option) vs. Respirator with 1‐Month Life Extension (More‐Intense Option)
Suppose a year ago you were diagnosed with a very serious illness. Imagine that your doctors had said you almost certainly would live less than a year. Suppose the year has passed and the illness has got to the point that you needed a respirator to stay alive. If it would lengthen your life for a month, would you want to be put on a respirator?
Decision Scenario #4: No Respirator (Less‐Intense Option) vs. Respirator with 1‐Week Life Extension (More‐Intense Option)
Suppose a year ago you were diagnosed with a very serious illness. Imagine that your doctors had said you almost certainly would live less than a year. Suppose the year has passed and the illness has got to the point that you needed a respirator to stay alive. If it would lengthen your life for a week, would you want to be put on a respirator?