1Lecturer, Vinayaka Missions College of Nursing, Vinayaka Missions University, Puducherry, India.
2Research scholar, Adhiparasakthi College of Nursing, Melmaruvathur, Tamilnadu, India
*Email id: bmbalanursing@gmail.com
Online published on 15 January, 2013.
After legalising passive euthanasia in India, no study was conducted to evaluate the existing knowledge and attitude of medical practitioner in India; hence, this study was conducted to know the current knowledge and attitude of medical practitioner in South India towards passive euthanasia.
The study recruited 280 subjects from three hospitals of South India. Data were collected cross-sectionally using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics.
The overall response rate in the study was 93.3%. The mean age of the subjects was 43.6±5.4 years. The overall mean knowledge score was 9±1.5. Majority of the subjects had only moderate knowledge (42.8%). Majority of the subjects had an unfavourable attitude towards passive euthanasia (60.7%).
Based on this scientific evidence it is concluded that the medical practitioner knowledge and attitude regarding passive euthanasia is poor and unfavourable. There may be larger role for training programme to improve the medical practitioner knowledge and attitude about passive euthanasia.
Euthanasia, Physician-assisted suicide, Knowledge, Attitude, Medical practitioner
