Attitudes towards euthanasia among final-year Khartoum University medical students

ABSTRACT

To investigate the attitudes of final-year medical students at KhartoumUniversity towards euthanasia an anonymous questionnaire was answered by 141 students. Most were familiar with the concept of euthanasia. The majority, 108 [76.6%] opposed euthanasia and their reasons included religious beliefs, belief that euthanasia was unethical and fear of misuse. The supporters of euthanasia [23.4%] stated reasons such as preventing the suffering of patients and respecting their autonomy and dignity. More students who described themselves as strongly religious were opponents of euthanasia [83/87, 95.4%] than those who were moderately religious [25/54, 46.3%]