Ethical Perceptions of Euthanasia Among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students in Pakistan: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.
Tags : BioethicsCultural PerspectivesEnd-of-Life CareEthical PerceptionsEuthanasiaExploratory StudyHealth Ethics EducationMedical StudentsMoral ReasoningNon-Medical StudentsOriginal ResearchPakistanQualitative ResearchThe Operating Room GlobalThe Operating Room Global JournalTORGJUndergraduate Students
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.64573/torgj2512001
Authors: Syeda Fatima Qamar1*, Areesha Zehra1, Asjed Sanaullah2,3
| 1Ibadat International University, Islamabad 2Health Services Academy, Ministry of Health, Islamabad 3The Operating Room Global (TORG) |
Cite:
- APA (7th edition): Qamar, S. F., Zehra, A., & Sanaullah, A. (2025, December 14). Ethical perceptions of euthanasia among medical and non-medical undergraduate students in Pakistan: A qualitative exploratory study. The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ), 1(2). https://doi.org/10.64573/torgj2512001
- Harvard: Qamar, S.F., Zehra, A. and Sanaullah, A., 2025. Ethical perceptions of euthanasia among medical and non-medical undergraduate students in Pakistan: A qualitative exploratory study. The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ), 1(2). Published 14 December. Available at: https://doi.org/10.64573/torgj2512001
- Vancouver: Qamar SF, Zehra A, Sanaullah A. Ethical perceptions of euthanasia among medical and non-medical undergraduate students in Pakistan: A qualitative exploratory study. The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ). 2025 Dec 14;1(2). https://doi.org/10.64573/torgj2512001
- MLA (9th edition): Qamar, Syeda Fatima, et al. “Ethical Perceptions of Euthanasia Among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students in Pakistan: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.” The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ), vol. 1, no. 2, 14 Dec. 2025, https://doi.org/10.64573/torgj2512001
- Chicago (Author–Date): Qamar, Syeda Fatima, Areesha Zehra, and Asjed Sanaullah. 2025. “Ethical Perceptions of Euthanasia Among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students in Pakistan: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.” The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ) 1 (2), December 14. https://doi.org/10.64573/torgj2512001
Corresponding Author*:
Syeda Fatima Qamar
[email protected]
Declaration:
Authors’ Contribution:
Equal contributions.
Conflict of Interest:
The authors declare no conflict of interest related to the content, data sources, or affiliations presented in this paper.
Funding:
No funding received by the authors.
| Article History: |
| Received: 14-12-2025 Accepted: 14-12-2025 |
| Available Online: 14-12-2025 |
| QR Code Access to this Article |
| ABSTRACT |
| Background: Euthanasia remains one of the most ethically complex and socially contested issues in contemporary healthcare, particularly in societies where religious beliefs and cultural traditions strongly shape moral decision-making. While global debates on euthanasia often emphasize patient autonomy, quality of life, and medical responsibility, perspectives from religiously conservative contexts remain underrepresented in empirical literature. Objective: This qualitative study explored the awareness, ethical perceptions, and sociocultural interpretations of euthanasia among medical and non-medical undergraduate students in Pakistan. Methods: An exploratory qualitative design was employed using semi-structured interviews to capture participants’ personal understanding and moral reasoning. Thirty undergraduate students aged 18-24 years were recruited from medical disciplines, including Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, and non-medical disciplines such as Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Arts. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, audio-recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and underlying meanings within participants’ narratives. Results: The findings revealed that most students had limited prior awareness of euthanasia, with many encountering the concept for the first time during the interview. Ethical perceptions were strongly influenced by religious beliefs, with euthanasia predominantly viewed as morally impermissible and inconsistent with the belief that life and death are governed by divine authority. Cultural norms further reinforced opposition, as euthanasia was widely regarded as a taboo subject that contradicts family values and societal expectations. Medical students demonstrated relatively greater conceptual clarity and analytical reasoning, often acknowledging patient suffering and clinical realities; however, they remained ethically conflicted and largely unwilling to support or perform euthanasia due to religious, moral, and professional constraints. In contrast, non-medical students relied more on emotional and moral reasoning, frequently equating euthanasia with killing or wrongdoing. Conclusion: Overall, the study highlights that perceptions of euthanasia among Pakistani university students are shaped more by faith, culture, and collective social values than by academic background alone. These findings emphasize the need for structured bioethics education and culturally sensitive dialogue to promote informed and balanced understanding of end-of-life issues. Keywords: Euthanasia; Bioethics; Ethical Perceptions; Undergraduate Students; Religion and Culture; End-of-Life Care |
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