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Introduction
The debate over euthanasia has been an issue almost in all societies across time and space. However, euthanasia has become one of the most controversial topics of our age. The controversy over euthanasia is fueled by perplexity over the point of clinical death which can no longer be determined by cessation of blood circulation, respiratory, and pulsation systems as in the past. This is because, assisted with new medical developments like artificial respirators and technology that provide palliative care, nutrition and hydration; bodily vital functions and organs can continue to operate artificially. The challenge to scholars, health providers, judicial systems, and religious institutions is that, when does clinical death occur? Are individuals on life support clinically dead? If so, should they be assisted to die? Equally polarizing is the question that, who should make the final end of life decisions? Should it be based on judicial, religious, or cultural grounds? Few studies exploring euthanasia attitudes in resource constrained nations like those of sub-Sahara Africa exist. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore attitudes towards euthanasia in Uganda. This study is important because it is based on current data collected in 2010. Additionally, as the debate over euthanasia continues, especially as seen in developed nations, it is crucial to include resource constrained nations because such knowledge may help the international community's formulation of end of life policies. Findings reveal that, almost all participants (97 percent) perceived euthanasia as murder. Religious and cultural convictions were major influential factors for this perception. Potential for new medical discovery, pain, guilt, stress and physician distrust, economic need, physician role conflict, human versus divine knowledge, perception of euthanasia as license to kill, financial strain, compassion, hopelessness, and age are other themes that influenced attitudes towards euthanasia in this study.
Defining euthanasia
Euthanasia, assisted suicide or mercy killing refers to assisting a person with a terminal illness to die ([10] Gupta et al. , 2006). Passive euthanasia is intentionally withdrawing life sustaining technological treatment or withholding nutrition and hydration with intent to let someone die. Euthanasia may also be executed by a physician through administration of a lethal dose, or by providing means to the patient such as a lethal medication dose or knowledge for the purpose of...