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Attitudes Toward Euthanasia Among Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India: A Cross Sectional study

CONTEXT: Advances in expertise and equipment have enabled the medical profession to exercise more control over the processes of life and death, creating a number of moral and ethical dilemmas. People may live for extended periods with chronic painful or debilitating conditions that may be incurable....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Kamath, Sneha, Bhate, Priya, Mathew, Ginu, Sashidharan, Srijith, Daniel, Anjali B
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3276816/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22346044
http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-1075.92336
Descripción
Sumario:CONTEXT: Advances in expertise and equipment have enabled the medical profession to exercise more control over the processes of life and death, creating a number of moral and ethical dilemmas. People may live for extended periods with chronic painful or debilitating conditions that may be incurable. AIM: This study attempts to study the attitudes of doctors toward euthanasia and the possible factors responsible for these attitudes. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of 213 doctors working at a tertiary care hospital was conducted to determine their attitudes toward euthanasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess attitudes and personal perceptions about euthanasia. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The Chi square test was used to assess factors influencing attitudes toward euthanasia. RESULTS: A majority of the respondents (69.3%) supported the concept of euthanasia. Relief from unbearable pain and suffering was the most commonly (80.3%) cited reason for being willing to consider the option of euthanasia. Majority of those who were against euthanasia (66.2%) felt that the freedom to perform euthanasia could easily be misused. Disapproval of euthanasia was associated with religious affiliation (P<0.001) and speciality (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of the doctors in this study supported euthanasia for the relief of unbearable pain and suffering. Religion and speciality appear to be significant in determining attitudes toward euthanasia.