Attitudes on euthanasia among medical students and doctors in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Euthanasia is a topic of intense ethical debate and it is illegal in most countries at present, including Sri Lanka. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study of medical students and practicing doctors was to explore the acceptance of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide (PAS), and factors influencing this opinion.

Methods

A customised online questionnaire which explored opinions on euthanasia was administered to first and final year medical undergraduates in University of Colombo and practicing doctors with more than 5 years of work experience at The National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Attitudes on euthanasia and PAS were also assessed with the attitudes towards euthanasia (ATE) Scale, which is a 10-item questionnaire.

Results

A total of 425 indiv

SUBMITTER: Herath HMMTB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8650524 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature