Attitude of Patients towards Euthanasia Attending Neurology Clinic: A Pilot Study in Iran

Introduction: Due to the recent progress in medical and technological knowledge, the attitude towards death has changed. Euthanasia is another concept that has acquired attention in the recent decades. Aim: To compare the attitude toward euthanasia among dying patients, relatives of dying patients, depressed patients and non depressed patients, at a neurological clinic in Babol, Iran. Materials and Methods: The present pilot cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2014 at the neurological diseases clinic affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran. Four groups of subjects participated in the study (16 in each group): dying patients, relatives of dying patients, patients with depressive disorders and non depressed patients. In order to assess the willingness of participants toward euthanasia, a researcher-made questionnaire was designed based on the objectives of the study. Due to the lack of reliable and valid questionnaires on euthanasia in Iran, the researchers tailored a questionnaire in accordance with Iranian culture and cognitive aspects of euthanasia and related literature. Questions were devised and given to three specialists for expert opinion. After minor revisions, validity and reliability of the questions were calculated. After data collection, statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 16 and ANOVA test. Results: Of the total 64 participants, 34 were female and 30 were male (mean age=55 +/- 4.7 years). The mean euthanasia score for men was slightly higher (9.33 +/- 2.6) than women (9.03 +/- 2.8). There was no significant difference between gender and euthanasia score (p=0.66). Also, there was no significant difference between the mean euthanasia score of four study groups (p=0.28). Conclusion: According to the findings of our study, there was no significant difference between attitude towards euthanasia among depressed and dying patients versus other patients (relatives of dying patients, non depressed patients).