scholarly journals Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: a systematic review of medical students’ attitudes in the last 10 years

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Gutierrez-Castillo ◽  
Javier Gutierrez-Castillo ◽  
Francisco Guadarrama-Conzuelo ◽  
Amado Jimenez-Ruiz ◽  
Jose Luis Ruiz-Sandoval
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Academic Experience ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Approval Rate ◽  
Relief Of Suffering ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Acceptance Rates

This study aimed at examining the approval rate of the medical students’ regarding active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, and physician-assisted-suicide over the last ten years. To do so, the arguments and variables affecting students’ choices were examined and a systematic review was conducted, using PubMed and Web of Science databases, including articles from January 2009 to December 2018. From 135 identified articles, 13 met the inclusion criteria. The highest acceptance rates for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide were from European countries. The most common arguments supporting euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide were the followings: (i) patient’s autonomy (n = 6), (ii) relief of suffering (n = 4), and (ii) the thought that terminally-ill patients are additional burden (n = 2). The most common arguments against euthanasia were as follows: (i) religious and personal beliefs (n = 4), (ii) the “slippery slope” argument and the risk of abuse (n = 4), and (iii) the physician’s role in preserving life (n = 2). Religion (n = 7), religiosity (n = 5), and the attributes of the medical school of origin (n = 3) were the most significant variables to influence the students’ attitude. However, age, previous academic experience, family income, and place of residence had no significant impact. Medical students' opinions on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should be appropriately addressed and evaluated because their moral compass, under the influence of such opinions, will guide them in solving future ethical and therapeutic dilemmas in the medical field.

scholarly journals Medical Students' Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide

JAMA ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 282 (21) ◽  
pp. 2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Mangus ◽  
Albert Dipiero ◽  
Claire E. Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Students Attitudes

Physician Assisted Suicide: Knowledge and Views of Fifth-Year Medical Students in Germany

Death Studies ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Schildmann ◽  
Eva Herrmann ◽  
Nicole Burchardi ◽  
Ulrich Schwantes ◽  
Jochen Vollmann
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide

Incidence and risk factors for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in oncology patients: A systematic review.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 12034-12034
Author(s):  
Wei Liu ◽  
Luke Liu ◽  
Alissa Liu ◽  
Sang Jia ◽  
Tony Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Included Study ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Severe Nausea ◽  
Oncology Patients ◽  
Assisted Death ◽  
Chi Squared

12034 Background: In a growing number of jurisdictions, oncology patients may choose euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EPAS). A 2016 systematic review reported that 75% of U.S. and over 70% of Dutch and Belgian EPAS cases involved oncology patients. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the percentage of deaths among oncology patients via EPAS has been increasing. We investigated the incidence and risk factors for EPAS and EPAS requests in oncology patients. Methods: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for articles from January 2000 to April 2020. Search terms were related to suicide, euthanasia, assisted dying, assisted death, right to die, mercy killing, and cancer. Eligible studies reported incidence and/or risk factors for EPAS/EPAS request based on at least 50 oncology patients. Eligibility for inclusion was independently reviewed by two authors, with discrepancies adjudicated by a third. Data obtained included: study type, country, cancer diagnosis, number of eligible patients, inclusion criteria, follow-up length, incidence of EPAS or EPAS request, and odds ratios (OR) for risk factors for EPAS and EPAS request. ORs and p values were extracted from studies whenever possible and were otherwise calculated based on the data provided using chi-squared test. Results: The search strategy identified 6519 results. 25 abstracts were selected for full-text review and 10 studies were included for analysis. All studies reported incidence of EPAS/EPAS request and 6 studies reported risk factors for EPAS/EPAS request. Six studies were from the Netherlands, 3 from Belgium, and 1 from Canada. Inclusion period for studies spanned from 1996 to 2018. Half of the included studies were prospectively conducted. Incidence of EPAS in cancer patients ranged from 7% to 15% and EPAS requests ranged from 8% to 27%. Factors significantly associated (p<0.05) with EPAS or EPAS request in any study are shown in the Table. Conclusions: Up to 15% of oncology patients choose euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. Potentially modifiable symptoms including severe nausea, vomiting, and pain are significantly associated with EPAS in oncology patients.[Table: see text]

Effect of the Doctor on College Students' Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Wooddell ◽  
Kalman J. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Students Attitudes

Ninety-six students were presented with eighteen different vignettes describing different types of active and passive observed suicide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Attitudes regarding the morality and desired legality of each situation were measured. Results indicate that the interaction between the doctor and the patient, and, to a lesser extent, the active or passive nature of the agent of death, were more important than the actual actions of the doctor in allowing or causing death to occur.

scholarly journals Offline Digital Education for Medical Students: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Gerard Dunleavy ◽  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Digital Education ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Students Attitudes

BACKGROUND Medical schools in low- and middle-income countries are facing a shortage of staff, limited infrastructure, and restricted access to fast and reliable internet. Offline digital education may be an alternative solution for these issues, allowing medical students to learn at their own time and pace, without the need for a network connection. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of offline digital education compared with traditional learning or a different form of offline digital education such as CD-ROM or PowerPoint presentations in improving knowledge, skills, attitudes, and satisfaction of medical students. The secondary objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of offline digital education, changes in its accessibility or availability, and its unintended/adverse effects on students. METHODS We carried out a systematic review of the literature by following the Cochrane methodology. We searched seven major electronic databases from January 1990 to August 2017 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster RCTs. Two authors independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We assessed the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations criteria. RESULTS We included 36 studies with 3325 medical students, of which 33 were RCTs and three were cluster RCTs. The interventions consisted of software programs, CD-ROMs, PowerPoint presentations, computer-based videos, and other computer-based interventions. The pooled estimate of 19 studies (1717 participants) showed no significant difference between offline digital education and traditional learning groups in terms of students’ postintervention knowledge scores (standardized mean difference=0.11, 95% CI –0.11 to 0.32; small effect size; low-quality evidence). Meta-analysis of four studies found that, compared with traditional learning, offline digital education improved medical students’ postintervention skills (standardized mean difference=1.05, 95% CI 0.15-1.95; large effect size; low-quality evidence). We are uncertain about the effects of offline digital education on students’ attitudes and satisfaction due to missing or incomplete outcome data. Only four studies estimated the costs of offline digital education, and none reported changes in accessibility or availability of such education or in the adverse effects. The risk of bias was predominantly high in more than half of the included studies. The overall quality of the evidence was low (for knowledge, skills, attitudes, and satisfaction) due to the study limitations and inconsistency across the studies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that offline digital education is as effective as traditional learning in terms of medical students’ knowledge and may be more effective than traditional learning in terms of medical students’ skills. However, there is a need to further investigate students’ attitudes and satisfaction with offline digital education as well as its cost-effectiveness, changes in its accessibility or availability, and any resulting unintended/adverse effects.

Patients’ Attitudes towards Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Systematic Review of the Literature Published over Fifteen Years

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-43
Author(s):  
Lynne Parkinson ◽  
Katherine Rainbird ◽  
Ian Kerridge ◽  
Kerrie Clover ◽  
Peter Ravenscroft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Review Of The Literature

Views regarding physician-assisted suicide: a study of medical professionals at various points in their training

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Kitching ◽  
Andrew James Stevens ◽  
Louise Forman
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Acute Hospital ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
The Uk

In this study, we sought to obtain detailed opinion on some of the practical issues that might arise should physician-assisted suicide (PAS) ever be legalized in the UK. We carried out an anonymous postal questionnaire of medical students, junior and senior doctors working at an acute hospital trust, over a three-week period. A total of 435 questionnaires were distributed and we had an overall return rate of 34%. We found that opinions changed very little as doctors progressed from medical school through to senior clinical positions. Overall, there was neutral opinion on whether PAS should be legalized. There was strong support for a multidisciplinary approach to the process and the involvement of the coroner. An opt-out clause for physicians who did not want to be involved in assisted suicide also received strong support.

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