Support for Canada’s Euthanasia law is built on shaky foundations as most of those who back it appear unaware that it allows cases they do not support.

That’s according to a study whose results were just published in the British Medical Journal.

A survey found only 12.1% correctly answered at least 4 of 5 knowledge questions about the Medical Assistance in Dying [MAID] law; only 19.2% knew terminal illness is not required and 20.2% knew treatment refusal is compatible with eligibility.

73.3% of participants expressed support for the MAID law in general, matching a nationally representative poll that used the same question. 40.4% of respondents supported MAID for mental illnesses. Support for MAID in the scenarios depicting refusal or lack of access to treatment ranged from 23.2% (lack of access in medical condition) to 32.0% (treatment refusal in medical illness).

The study concluded that the gap between current policy and public opinion warrants “further study”.

“For jurisdictions debating MAID, opinion surveys may need to go beyond assessing general attitudes, and target knowledge and views regarding implications of legalisation,” it added.