Mapping the Ethical Landscape of Euthanasia: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research

Bo Wang; Oyyappan Duraipandi

doi:10.64229/ewhrwa04

Authors

Bo Wang School of Business & Management, Lincoln University College, 47301 Selangor‌‌, Malaysia Author
Oyyappan Duraipandi School of Business & Management, Lincoln University College, 47301 Selangor‌‌, Malaysia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64229/ewhrwa04

Keywords:

Euthanasia, Medical Ethics, Bioethics, End-of-life Decisions, Assisted Dying

Abstract

Euthanasia remains one of the most debated issues in contemporary bioethics, raising complex questions about patient autonomy, professional responsibility, and legal regulation. This study applies a bibliometric and scientometric approach to map the global research landscape on euthanasia and ethics. Publications indexed in Scopus from 2000 to 2025 were retrieved and analyzed using co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, and cluster network visualization. The results reveal three major thematic domains: (1) Institutional controversies and ethical pluralism - legal, professional, and cultural perspectives on euthanasia, (2) Autonomy and psychological suffering - ethical reflections on euthanasia in mental and vulnerable populations, (3) Clinical ethics and end-of-life decision-making - professional attitudes, institutional practices, and medical guidelines. Temporal analysis indicates a growing focus on patient-centered ethical debates and legislative controversies in the past decade. Highly cited studies and influential co-cited works form the intellectual foundation of this field, while emerging clusters highlight debates around palliative care integration and moral distress among healthcare professionals. This study provides a comprehensive overview of research trends and thematic evolutions, offering valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners engaged in end-of-life ethics.

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Mapping the Ethical Landscape of Euthanasia: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research

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