Professor Margaret Battin:

While I cannot give the Deputy an exact number, many organisations in this country, including medical associations, have switched their view from opposition to what can be called studied neutrality. Some of them have switched to support and some have remained opposed but a common position now is one of wait and see. They are neutral but continue to reflect on the circumstances. I believe that support among physicians has been growing but of course attitudes are tied to background experience, professional affiliations and religious beliefs.

In some states, including Washington for example, there is opposition that originates from religion and is a function of the fact that many of the hospitals in those states are owned by the Catholic Church, which prohibits this practice, as well as many reproductive practices, and so on. Physicians are not allowed to support this or to practise it, either in the Catholic facilities or off site. There are lots of political machinations.