Academic Staff Attitude Toward Euthanasia in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Euthanasia or good death refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve patient’s pain and suffering. There are different euthanasia rules in each country. Attitudes toward euthanasia differ between individuals and populations, and in many studies the medical profession is more reluctant than the general public. Our goal was to explore academic staff attitude toward euthanasia in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
This is a cross sectional study that an anonymous questionnaire was sent to 132 randomly selected physicians in Tabriz Uni. of Med. Sci. between 2009-2010, consisting of 15 multiple choice questions on definition and classification of euthanasia, legal status and attitude toward euthanasia among Islamic populations. Data were analyzed with SPSS16.
Analyzing 132 completed questions showed that only 10.2% and 6.2% endorsed the view that a physician should be permitted, under some circumstances, to allow a patient to end his or her life in hospitals and non-hospital (such as home). 59.1% and 80.6% endorsed the view that this practice should never be permitted in hospitals and non-hospital status such as her or his home. Of the groups surveyed, hematologists-oncologists and psychiatrists (100%) were most likely to oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, and anesthesiologists (50%) were most likely to support these practices among hospitalized patients.
In sharp contrast to similar surveys conducted in other countries, only a minority of physicians supported the euthanasia in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. It seems that palliative care needs to be stronger established and promoted within the Iranian health care system in order to improve the quality of end-of-life situations among terminally ill patients.