, vol. 10, issue 1, pp. 20-21, 2013.
euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have provoked controversy. the ethical and legal issues have been debated but more emphasis on the cultural and religious aspects is needed.
Cultural differences could account for some in- equalities related to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), especially as clinical decisions are necessar- ily influenced by the structure of society at large and the context in which they are made (Clark et al, 1991). Sociological influences on clinical decision-making include the social characteristics of patients and physicians, the patterns of social interaction and authority in clinical settings, and the structure of healthcare organisations. In the UK and other European countries, there are size- able minorities who originate from the Middle East and similar cultures who come into contact with the health sector as patients or c linicians. Euthanasia and PAS are legally prohibited in all Middle Eastern countries and this review, though not exhaustive, explores these topical issues from historical and religious perspectives.
