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More than two-thirds of Canadians support making it legal for doctors to help the terminally ill kill themselves, a new poll suggests as the assisted-suicide issue once again provokes heated debate across the country.

Advocates on both sides of the question say the findings from a Forum Research survey are no surprise, but argue public opinion should not be the guiding force in deciding whether to change the current law, now under scrutiny in a closely watched B.C. court case.

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Supporters of legalizing the practice maintain it is a matter of basic human rights that transcends popular attitudes; opponents say Canadians’ beliefs would change if care at the end of life were improved and death made more comfortable.

The poll of 1,160 adults, conducted Dec. 13, indicated that 67% of respondents favoured legalizing physician-assisted suicide of terminally ill patients.

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Support varied from 60% in the Prairie provinces to 81% in Quebec.