Attitudes towards euthanasia

Abstract

In a survey of medical, nursing and college students and practising physicians and nurses there were significant attitudinal differences in responses to statements about euthanasia. Senior medical students and practising physicians did not differ significantly from each other but were more positively orientated towards euthanasia than registered nurses, first yr medical students, senior and first-yr nursing students, and other college students. Attitudes toward euthanasia were positively correlated with other attitudes towards the dying patient and his family for all groups but the 2 groups of nursing students and the practising nurses. These 3 nursing groups and the college students also showed proportionately the greatest within-person inconsistency in responses to the euthanasia items.