title: Attitudes Toward Euthanasia Among Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India: A Cross Sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in expertise and equipment have enabled the medical profession to exercise more control over the processes of life and death, creating a number of moral and ethical dilemmas. People may live for extended periods with chronic painful or debilitating conditions that may be incurable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study attempts to study the attitudes of doctors toward euthanasia and the possible factors responsible for these attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 213 doctors working at a tertiary care hospital was conducted to determine their attitudes toward euthanasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess attitudes and personal perceptions about euthanasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Chi square test was used to assess factors influencing attitudes toward euthanasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A majority of the respondents (69.3%) supported the concept of euthanasia. Relief from unbearable pain and suffering was the most commonly (80.3%) cited reason for being willing to consider the option of euthanasia. Majority of those who were against euthanasia (66.2%) felt that the freedom to perform euthanasia could easily be misused. Disapproval of euthanasia was associated with religious affiliation (P<0.001) and speciality (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of the doctors in this study supported euthanasia for the relief of unbearable pain and suffering. Religion and speciality appear to be significant in determining attitudes toward euthanasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Sneha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhate
authors.forename: Ginu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Srijith
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sashidharan
authors.forename: Anjali B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Daniel