Prevalence of Euthanasia Requests Among Patients with Life-Limiting or Chronic Illnesses in Selected Nigerian Healthcare Settings

Author(s):Agoro Oviemova Nathan, Eberendu Izuchukwu Francis, Obasi kalu Obasi

Received: 2026-08-07 Accepted: 2026-09-05 Published: 2026-09-15

Abstract

There is scant evidence on requests for accelerated death among seriously ill patients in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of requests for euthanasia among adults with life-limiting or severe chronic conditions attending selected health care facilities in Nigeria. An analytical cross-sectional study was undertaken in a health facility among 640 consenting persons (≥18 years). The participants were selected utilising a multistage selection process which included primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities. The data were gathered by means of a standardised questionnaire administered by an interviewer. A euthanasia-related request was defined as an unambiguous request for help to accelerate death or a repeated expression of the will to die because of unbearable suffering during the reference period. Prevalence was calculated using 95% Wilson confidence interval. Among 640 respondents, 223 identified a request connected to euthanasia, with a prevalence of 34.8% (95% CI: 31.2%–38.6%). The remaining 417 respondents (65.2%) did not request euthanasia. More over one in three of the patients surveyed said they had been asked for euthanasia. The conclusion of the study included explicit requests for assistance in hastening death and frequent declarations of a desire to die; therefore the estimate should be taken as an indicator of euthanasia related suffering, rather than proof of access to, attempted or accomplished euthanasia. These findings underscore the need of Nigerian health systems responding to such utterances with rigorous clinical assessment, good symptom management, appropriate palliative care, psychological support and strong ethical protections.

Keywords: euthanasia request; desire for hastened death; life-limiting illness; palliative care; prevalence; Nigeria

DOI: 10.5281/10.5281/zenodo.22768531

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