Turkey's physicians' attitudes toward euthanasia: A brief research report


Ozkara E., Hanci H., Civaner M., Yorulmaz C., Karagoz M., Mayda A., ...Daha Fazla

OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING, cilt.49, sa.2, ss.109-115, 2004 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 49 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2004
  • Doi Numarası: 10.2190/e88c-uxa5-tl9t-rvlk
  • Dergi Adı: OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.109-115
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are subject to an ongoing debate and discussed with various aspects. Because physicians are in a profession closely related to euthanasia, their attitudes toward this subject are significant. Thus, research intending to explore their opinions is carried out in many countries. In this study, opinions of the physicians regarding euthanasia's definition, contents, legal aspects, and acceptable conditions for its application are addressed. The questionnaire was given to 949 physicians, more than 1% of the total working in Turkey. Of the physicians who participated in the study, 49.9% agreed with the opinion that euthanasia should be legal in certain circumstances. In addition, 19% had come across a euthanasia request and the majority of physicians (55.9%) believed that euthanasia is applied secretly in the country despite the prohibitory legislation. In conclusion, the authors infer from the study itself and believe that euthanasia should be legal in certain circumstances and that the subject, which is not in the agenda of the Turkish population, should continue to be examined.