[Attitudes Towards Active Euthanasia and Its Legislation in Spain]

Background: The present forms of carrying out public health care have lead to probably more effective medicine but which at the same time has led to greater risks in violating patients' rights and welfare. At present, a series of arguments are been debated for soliciting the legalization of euthanasia as a form of avoiding possible abuses. Thus, the opinions and attitudes concerning legislation for active euthanasia in terminally ill patients were herein investigated.

Methods: An anonymous survey was elaborated in which 1,109 subjects from three sectors of the population participated: a) hospital personnel (doctors n = 346 and nurses n = 346) of the University Hospital San Carlos in Madrid, b) students (n = 261) of the University Complutense of Madrid, and c) retired people (n = 156) in an old age residence in the province of Madrid (Pinto). The sample was made up of a total of 446 males and 657 females with ages of between 20 and 90 years.

Results: Most of those surveyed were in agreement in determined circumstances or totally in agreement with legislation for active euthanasia in terminally ill patients (63%). With respect to acceptation to the practice of legislation for active euthanasia 63% were in agreement in determined circumstances or totally in agreement. Significant differences were found (p less than 0.05) in relation to age, sex, marital status, religion and political ideology of the subjects.

Conclusions: Although the results found in this study concerning the opinions and attitudes on legislation for active euthanasia in terminally ill patients coincided when compared with other existing studies with respect to acceptation for legislation, a less favorable tendency to the same was evident.