Beliefs about euthanasia among university students: perspectives from Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Opinions of university students about euthanasia were studied in 4 cities in Pakistan using convenience sampling. A total of 836 students [316 males and 520 females] completed a questionnaire in which euthanasia was defined as deliberate administration of an overdose of a drug by a doctor to relieve pain and suffering of a dying patient at his/her explicit request to end his/her life. Only 25.6% of students agreed that euthanasia should be legalized in Pakistan. The most common reason cited for legalization of euthanasia was to relieve patient's suffering but only when a committee of physicians agreed to recommend it Students who opposed legalization [74.4%] cited impediments to future medical research as the most common reason, followed by the risk of misuse by physicians or family members. Only 8.9% of students cited religious beliefs as a reason against legalization. There is a need in Pakistan for more debate about euthanasia