Perception and Attitude towards Passive Euthanasia among Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northeast India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The medical fraternity now has more control over the processes of life and death due to advances in medical technology and equipment. Euthanasia has been debated around the world for more than half a century and it continues to raise important questions in medical ethics, moral theology, civil rights and liberty. Physicians’ attitudes to life and death emerge to relate their end-of-life decision-making, although usually carried out at the request of ailing person. Physicians’ contemplation on euthanasia is a vital building block in the path towards any change, in the euthanasia situation in a country.

Aim: To determine perception and attitude towards passive euthanasia among doctors and to evaluate the association between attitude and variables favourable to passive euthanasia.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (tertiary care hospital), Manipur, India, between October 2018 and September 2020, in Northeast was carried out among 673 doctors. A self-administered questionnaire was designed and approved by three specialists with expertise in palliative care and medical ethics. The questionnaire had a total of 46 questions in English language, of which 15 questions were on socio-demographic profile, 13 were attitude questions and 18 were questions on perception towards passive euthanasia. Attitude questions were scored using 5-point Likert scale from strongly disagree (-2) to strongly agree (+2). Total attitude score ranges from -26 to +26. Score above zero was considered to have positive attitude and vice-versa. There was no scoring to determine perception towards euthanasia. The questionnaires were given to the doctors and postgraduate trainees of clinical and non clinical specialities in a tertiary care hospital in North Eastern India during their work hours. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used to assess factors favouring attitudes toward passive euthanasia.

Results: Age of the respondents ranged from 24 years to 63 years, with a mean age of 37.1±10.7 years and mean duration of experience was eight years. Out of 577 respondents, 368 (63.8%) were postgraduate trainees and 209 (36.2%) were doctors. Majority 463 (80.2%) of the respondents had positive attitude, 97 (16.9%) had negative attitude and 17 (2.9%) had neutral attitude. Total 543 (94.1%) respondents agreed that declaration from patient/family members must be obtained before the act of passive euthanasia. Also, the quality of life as viewed by the patient himself (452, 78.3%) and humanitarian basis (372, 64.4%) were the important factors in influencing decision making regarding passive euthanasia on a terminally ill patient. There was no significant association between sex, age, religion, working category, specialisation, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience and attitude towards passive euthanasia.

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents had positive attitude towards passive euthanasia in the face of intractable suffering and terminal illness. Hastened death looks easier to the patients and family because of physical suffering and financial burdens they are subjected to. The doctors got request for euthanasia by the patients and relatives which reflects the public awareness on euthanasia.