The practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is increasing in many parts of the world. However, in Pakistan, the knowledge and practices of the population regarding euthanasia is insufficient, with most of the opinions being controversial due to cultural and religious beliefs. The primary aim of this study was to determine medical and non-medical students’ knowledge and understanding of euthanasia and PAS.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2019 and February 2020 in Karachi, Pakistan, for a period of 6 months on a sample size of 397 students between 17–24 years of age. A non-probability convenience-based sampling technique was used to collect data via interviewer-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three sections with the first section inquiring about the socio-demographic characteristics; the second section consisted of questions related to knowledge levels regarding euthanasia and PAS; the third section determined practices and attitude towards euthanasia, allowance, and legalization, the right to die and bioethical concepts. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0.

Out of a total of 397 participants, more than three-fifths (n=258, 65%) were medical students, while more than one-third (n=139, 35%) were non-medical students. More than half of our participants (n=230, 57.9%) had previous knowledge regarding the term euthanasia and its concept with a greater proportion of medical students (n=163, 63.2%) demonstrating knowledge in comparison to non-medical students (n=67, 48.2%). Nearly two-fifths (n=57, 41%) of non-medical students would let their loved-ones end their lives had they been suffering from a terminally-ill disease, while the majority of medical students (n=175, 67.8%) would not allow that.

Our study demonstrated that students have negative views regarding the legalization of euthanasia and consider it ethically incorrect. Advanced palliative care is a suitable alternative to euthanasia and hence it should be made readily and easily accessible to alleviate EOL suffering of terminally ill patients.