Attitude Towards Euthanasia among Students of Arts College-A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study was undertaken to study the awareness and perception about euthanasia among arts students and to compare the regional differences, if any. This cross-sectional study was conducted at different colleges in Mangalore (representing south) and Srinagar and Jammu (representing north) among 400 arts students. The students responded to self-administered questionnaires that comprised of ten questions. A total of 400 students participated in the study, 200 from South and 200 from North between the age group of 17 to 21 years. The majority of participants (85%) from north and 70% from south were against introducing a law permitting the practice of euthanasia. 78% of participants from north and 46% from south were of the opinion that it should not be allowed. The participants were questioned that if euthanasia is allowed, who according to them should do it, and it was found that majority of the participants from north were of the opinion that euthanasia should be decided by the family whereas participants from south believed that euthanasia should be decided by the doctor. The main concern of respondents in south (52%) regarding euthanasia was that it can be misused in different situations, whereas in north the participants (55%) were against euthanasia based on their religious belief. Majority of students were against the legalization of euthanasia. Further study should be conducted to know the awareness and perception of euthanasia among the general population.