A recent study conducted by the cancer doctors at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, claims that out of the 141 parents being interviewed on their take on mercy killing of the cancer-suffering children, and reveals that 19% of them agree on it, however, 13% parents are doubtful about it.

The study is focused on the pain suffered by the children dying of cancer.

"I have no doubt that in a small number of cases; some physicians might cooperate with a parent's desire to see a child's suffering ended. This might include giving a drug for sedation or pain control that also suppresses the drive to breathe. Most physicians don't intentionally push that drug to the point of stopping a child's breathing, but some may be comfortable not intervening if a child stops breathing in the course of treating him or her for discomfort", said Dr. Douglas Diekema, a Medical Ethicist at Seattle Children's Hospital.

The study says, "Parents cannot tolerate seeing their children suffer and do not know about all the legal options for pain relief, which can include sedating children into unconsciousness. Also, many doctors are uncomfortable discussing such issues".

However, Dr. Walter Robinson, an Ethicist and Associate Pediatrics Professor at Vanderbilt University, has said that a majority of the doctors fall short of expertise while handling dying children.