This moral coil: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian medical student attitudes toward medical assistance in dying

BMC Medical Ethics

Research Article

Eli Xavier Bator¹  Bethany Philpott¹  Andrew Paul Costa¹ 

[1] Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo Regional Campus, McMaster University, 10B Victoria St S, N2G 1C5, Kitchener, ON, Canada;

关键词: Medical students;    Medical education;    Medical assistance in dying;    Assisted suicide;    Euthanasia;    End-of-life;    Attitudes and opinions;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12910-017-0218-5

 received in 2017-04-12, accepted in 2017-10-18,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn February, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the ban on medical assistance in dying (MAiD). In June, 2016, the federal government passed Bill C-14, permitting MAiD. Current medical students will be the first physician cohort to enter a system permissive of MAiD, and may help to ensure equitable access to care. This study assessed medical student views on MAiD, factors influencing these views, and opportunities for medical education.MethodsAn exploratory cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to medical students across all years of a three-year Canadian undergraduate medical program. The investigators administered the survey to participants during academic sessions from November to December, 2015. Analysis of the results included summary descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test of independence to identify differences between participants by year of study, logistic regression to identify factors that influence students’ stances on MAiD, and Wilcoxon signed rank test to measure changes in student support for MAiD and comfort discussing MAiD.ResultsThere were 405 participants for a response rate of 87%. The majority of students (88%) supported the Supreme Court’s decision, 61% would provide the means for a patient to end their life, and 38% would personally administer a lethal medication. Students who were more willing to provide the means for MAiD found medical education/clinical experience and patient autonomy to be important contributors to their stances on MAiD. Those students who were less willing to provide the means for MAiD found religious/spiritual beliefs and teachings, as well as concern about potential negative consequences, to be important contributors to their stances on MAiD. Educational training desired by participants included medicolegal (91%), communication skills (80%), technical skills (75%), and religious (49%).ConclusionsMedical students generally supported and would provide the means for MAiD to patients. They also indicated a desire for directed medical education on MAiD.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017