Euthanasia and the Media in Spain (2019-2021).

Abstract

The regulation legal of euthanasia in Spain was preceded by an increase in media coverage. This study conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses of media coverage in the 12 most widely circulated Spanish media outlets between January 2019 and March 2021, immediately before the enactment of the law regulating euthanasia. In total, 281 news articles were examined. About 51.6% of the news articles supported euthanasia, 18.9% opposed it, and 29.5% were neutral. Qualitative analysis revealed a substantial distinction between pro- and anti-euthanasia groups. The semantic field of items in pro-euthanasia articles comprised "law," "death," "suffering," and "pain." In contrast, the semantic field of articles opposing euthanasia comprised "life," "death," "people/person," and "illness." The media predominantly favored euthanasia, albeit offering limited discussion of alternatives, such as palliative care. It is crucial to cultivate an ethical culture that empowers citizens to make end-of-life decisions based on clear-cut principles, rational reasoning, and diverse perspectives.