70% of Malta residents prefer palliative care that ensures a natural, pain-free death over assisted suicide, while nearly half admit they would consider ending their life early through euthanasia to avoid burdening their family, according to a survey conducted by misco.

The new national survey, results of which were published Tuesday, found that more than two-thirds of those who had already experienced first-hand the loss of a family member to illness, favoured palliative care, highlighting the impact of real-life experiences in shaping public attitudes.

The survey also shed light on the emotional and social pressure to succumb to assisted suicide if diagnosed with a terminal illness. 47% said they would consider this option if they felt they were a burden on their loved ones.

One-third of respondents said the burden-on-family scenario would not be a factor in their decision, while 18% refused to rule out the possibility.

The survey also revealed widespread confusion about what "assisted dying" actually means. Only 60 per cent correctly understood it as the provision of lethal medication for patients to end their own lives, as outlined in the government's consultation document.

The rest mistakenly believed it referred to offering those on their deathbed hospice-type care, or the right to stop life-prolonging treatment, both of which are already legally and medically available to all.

The survey, conducted among 500 respondents between 10 June and 19 June 2025, was held to gauge public sentiment in light of the two-month consultation period over a government-backed White Paper proposing that terminally ill patients with less than six months to live be offered the option of assisted suicide.