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More planning for mortality

A new poll finds people are talking about end-of-life issues, and more have living wills.

WASHINGTON - People are more likely these days to plan for their own death or talk to close relatives about the subject that many have long been inclined to avoid, a poll found.

With the American population growing older and high-profile life-and-death cases in the news, more people are trying to come to grips with their own mortality.

Three in 10 people, 29 percent, now say they have a living will, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. That's more than twice the number, 12 percent, who said in 1990 that they had put into writing how they wish to be treated medically if they are incapable of communicating.

More than two-thirds of those who are married, 69 percent, say they have talked with their spouse about preferred end-of-life medical care. That's up from half who had done that in 1990.

The median age in the United States has been increasing and is now 36.2, according to the U.S. Census. That's up from 32.8 in 1990.

Also increasing the likelihood of discussing death preferences and preparing living wills are events like the Terri Schiavo case, according to Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center.

An overwhelming majority, 70 percent, say that patients should sometimes be allowed to die - close to the 73 percent who felt that way 15 years ago. And 22 percent say doctors should always try to save a patient's life.

[Last modified January 6, 2006, 01:05:09]