Opinions of Health Professionals About Euthanasia

Background: Euthanasia; is to allow patients to die when they can not find the hardships of medicine, or to make no effort to keep them allive. Objectives: This study was conducted in order to determine the opinions of healthcare professionals working in psychiatry field about euthanasia. Methods: Comparative-qualified research was conducted in NPISTANBUL Neuropsychiatry Hospital, NP Etiler Policlinic and NP Feneryolu Policlinic located in Istanbul between March-2014 and June-2014. Sample of the research consists of 77 healthcare professionals(doctor, nurse, psychologist) working in psychiatry field. Data of the research was obtained through “Questionnaire Form” and “Euthanasia Attitude Scale”. Number, percentage and standard deviation techniques have been used to analyze data. Besides, to compare quantitative data, “man-whitnet u test” “kruskall whallis test” has been used to caused. Results has been evaluated in 95% confidence interval and p<0,05 significance level. Results: 42.9% (n=33) of health professionals are in the range of 25-34 years, 51.9% (n=40) of have postgraduated education, 33.8% (n=26) of nurse, 33.8% (n=26) of psychologist, 94.8% (n=73) of patient-based works. It was determined that 35% (n=27) of the healthcare professionals believe that euthanasia is a human/patient right, 71.4% (n=55) of them do not support euthanasia on children, 46.8% (n=36) support active euthanasia and 48% (n=37) of them support passive euthanasia