PURPOSE: This study aims at studying the influence of demographic determinants on defining the legal consciousness for euthanasia legalization in patients with polymorbidity and permanently diminished work capacity.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample includes 305 respondents certified by the General Medical Committee at St. Marina University Hospital of Varna as having polymorbidity and permanently diminished work capacity.
RESULTS: There is a significant effect of respondent's demographic characteristics such as religious and gender, educational level and employment on three main components of legal consciousness - cognitive (legal information), psychological (evaluations, relations, values) and behavioural one (tendency for legally relevant behaviour) concerning euthanasia legalization. These results prove the need of preliminary investigation of the legal consciousness of target social groups prior to execution of legal changes concerning certain socially important issues like euthanasia.
Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(2): 75-80.
Email this article (Login required) 
