TY - JOUR AU - Khan, Mir Azam AU - Javaid, Arshad AU - Sajjad, Hassan AU - Ahmad, Fahad AU - Khattak, Afaq AU - Khan, Noman AU - Adnan, Muhammad Atta-ur-Rahman PY - 2015/12/12 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - CLINICIANS APPROACH TO EUTHANASIA IN THE PROVINCE OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA JF - Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute JA - J Postgrad Med Inst VL - 29 IS - 3 SE - Original Article DO - UR - https://www.jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1831 SP - AB - Objective: To determine the knowledge of clinicians and their opinion about <br />legalization, obstacles in practicing euthanasia and factors that may compel <br />them to practice euthanasia.<br />Methodology: A questionnaire based descriptive study was conducted at <br />public and private hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A questionnaire was dis-tributed randomly to 540 doctors of different specialties and general practi -tioners. Questions were related to their knowledge, views about legalization, <br />factors and obstacles in practicing euthanasia. The questionnaire was collect -ed from the doctors who filled the form and consented to participate in the <br />study.<br />Results: The response rate was 55%, among them 79% were males. Only 61% <br />(185) knew the meaning of euthanasia, whereas 36% (109) knew about its <br />guidelines and 2% (6) had no knowledge of euthanasia. <br />Amongst clinicians who knew about euthanasia, 84% did not and 16% agreed <br />with its legalization. Reasons mentioned for disagreement with its legalization <br />were religion 95%, moral 61%, ethical 44%, emotional 41% and social 37%.<br />Of those clinicians who agreed with its legalization, 90% would and 10% <br />would not practice it on their patients. Out of them 40% would adopt no re-suscitation method, 40% would administer lethal drugs and 20% would with -hold or withdraw the treatment.<br />Conclusion: Majority of responding clinicians were not aware of euthanasia <br />and any related guidelines. They disagreed with the practice as well as legal-ization of euthanasia. ER -