Legal and bioethical aspects of euthanasia: A comparative analysis of international practice and the Ukrainian experience.

OBJECTIVE

Aim: To define the legal and bioethical aspects of the euthanasia problem in comparison with existing international practices and Ukrainian experience.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Materials and

Methods

A descriptive and comparative study of the regulatory frameworks of seven jurisdictions (2020-2026). A sociological survey (N=540) of healthcare workers and medical students at the Bogomolets National Medical University and the National Cancer Institute (2025) was conducted using an adapted End-of-Life Attitude Scale.

RESULTS

Results

The global legal trend of 2024-2026 is characterised by an expansion of criteria for access to euthanasia (France, the United Kingdom, Ecuador). The proportion of healthcare workers who categorically reject euthanasia was only 15.0% (95% CI: 12.2-18.3%). The level of rejection of euthanasia among believers (religious persons) (15.9%) did not statistically differ from that of non-believers (non-religious persons) (12.9%) (p=0.37).

CONCLUSION

Conclusions

The Ukrainian medical community demonstrates a significantly higher level of openness to discussing euthanasia (85.0%) than current conservative legislation assumes. Religious identity is not a statistically significant predictor of a negative attitude toward euthanasia. The results substantiate the need for legislative dialogue on palliative care and the right to a dignified end of life in Ukraine.