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Table 3 Attitudes of law and pharmacy final year students towards euthanasia (n = 117)

From: Knowledge and attitudes toward euthanasia among final year pharmacy and law students: a cross-sectional study

Statements

Field of participants

Responses, n (%)

Total, n (%)

1

2

3

4

5

A patient has the right to choose to end his/her own life

Pharmacy

16 (13.7)

6 (5.1)

11 (9.4)

11 (9.4)

11 (9.4)

55 (47)

Law

16 (13.7)

9 (7.7)

5 (4.3)

4 (3.4)

28 (23.9)

62 (53)

Total

32 (27.4)

15 (12.8)

16 (13.7)

15 (12.8)

39 (33.3)

117 (100)

Euthanasia should be legal in some circumstances

Pharmacy

13 (11.1)

15 (12.8)

10 (8.5)

11 (9.4)

6 (5.1)

55 (47)

Law

11 (9.4)

14 (12)

11 (9.4)

7 (6)

19 (16.2)

62 (53)

Total

24 (20.5)

29 (24.8)

21 (18)

18 (15.4)

25 (21.3)

117 (100)

The taking of human life is wrong no matter what the circumstances

Pharmacy

21 (18)

7 (6)

12 (10.2)

9 (7.7)

6 (5.1)

55 (47)

Law

26 (22.2)

17 (14.5)

7 (6)

6 (5.1)

6 (5.1)

62 (53)

Total

47 (40.2)

24 (20.5)

19 (16.2)

15 (12.8)

12 (10.2)

117 (100)

Patients without hope should not suffer

Pharmacy

11 (9.4)

15 (12.8)

12 (10.2)

10 (8.5)

7 (6)

55 (47)

Law

18 (15.4)

7 (6)

14 (12)

8 (6.8)

15 (12.8)

62 (53)

Total

29 (24.8)

22 (18.8)

26 (22.2)

18 (15.4)

22 (18.8)

117 (100)

Patients with a terminal illness should be allowed to die

Pharmacy

7 (6)

6 (5.1)

15 (12.8)

15 (12.8)

12 (10.2)

55 (47)

Law

14 (12)

6 (5.1)

9 (7.7)

18 (15.4)

15 (12.8)

62 (53)

Total

21 (18)

12 (10.2)

24 (20.5)

33 (28.2)

27 (23)

117 (100)

Euthanasia should be accepted in today’s society

Pharmacy

6 (5.1)

7 (6)

17 (14.5)

9 (7.7)

16 (13.7)

55 (47)

Law

7 (6)

1 (0.8)

14 (12)

14 (12)

26 (22.2)

62 (53)

Total

13 (11.1)

8 (6.8)

31 (26.5)

23 (19.7)

42 (35.9)

117 (100)

Euthanasia should be against the law

Pharmacy

7 (6)

7 (6)

21 (18)

10 (8.5)

10 (8.5)

55 (47)

Law

29 (24.8)

6 (5.1)

9 (7.7)

9 (7.7)

9 (7.7)

62 (53)

Total

36 (30.8)

13 (11.1)

30 (25.6)

19 (16.2)

19 (16.2)

117 (100)

Euthanasia gives a person a chance to die with dignity

Pharmacy

12 (10.2)

10 (8.5)

9 (7.7)

7 (6)

17 (14.5)

55 (47)

Law

8 (6.8)

4 (3.4)

13 (11.1)

18 (15.4)

19 (16.2)

62 (53)

Total

20 (17)

14 (12)

22 (18.8)

25 (21.4)

36 (30.8)

117 (100)

Euthanasia is acceptable if the person is old

Pharmacy

5 (4.3)

4 (3.4)

13 (11.1)

13 (11.1)

20 (17)

55 (47)

Law

8 (6.8)

1 (0.8)

7 (6)

15 (12.8)

31 (26.5)

62 (53)

Total

13 (11.1)

5 (4.3)

20 (17)

28 (24)

51 (43.6)

117 (100)

Ethiopia legislation should be changed to permit euthanasia under certain circumstances

Pharmacy

5 (4.3)

11 (9.4)

14 (12)

10 (8.5)

15 (12.8)

55 (47)

Law

7 (6)

9 (7.6)

4 (3.4)

10 (8.5)

32 (27.4)

62 (53)

Total

12 (10.3)

20 (17)

18 (15.4)

20 (17)

47 (40.2)

117 (100)

  1. 1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 = neutral, 4 = disagree, 5 = strongly disagree