[Students' attitudes to active euthanasia]

Attitude surveys in the Norwegian population show that an increasing majority support active euthanasia for patients with terminal disease. Among physicians, only a minority supports active euthanasia. Attitudes towards euthanasia were surveyed among students of medicine, law and psychology (n = 588, response rate 66%) with regard to a patient suffering from a painful, incurable and deadly or non-deadly disease, asking the doctor for help to die. To assess the strength of the students' attitude, the questions were presented either in a Christian context disapproving of euthanasia, in a humanistic context in favour, or in a neutral context-free form. 125 of 176 law students (71%), 134 of 216 psychology students (62%) and 71 of 196 medical students (36%) supported active euthanasia in cases of terminal disease. In cases of non-terminal disease, the corresponding percentages were 45%, 29% and 11%. 38% of the students with a Christian belief supported euthanasia in terminal disease while 79% of the humanists, 70% of those of another faith, and 65% of those without a definable faith did so. No significant gender difference was observed. 17% of the students stated that they were willing to perform euthanasia. No effect of context was observed. The results indicate stable and differentiated attitudes to the question of active euthanasia. One third of the medical students supported active euthanasia, which is twice as many as for physicians in general. Two thirds of the law and psychology students did so, which is similar to comparable age groups in the population.