Medical students' attidudes on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: sex differences

Results 251 students (55% women) completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 24.7 (± 1.8) years. 52 % and 70% of the respondents were for the acceptance of EUT or PAS, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women in most of the parameters studied. However, more men than women were in favor of the view that PAS may by morally acceptable under circumstances (65% vs 57%, p = 0.03) and that a request for PAS from a terminally ill patient is evidence of existence of a mental disorder (27% vs 13%, p = 0.01). In contrast, more women than men strongly agreed that religious belief deter physicians from facilitating a patient's death (43% vs 33%, p = 0.003) and that, the risk that PAS might misused with certain disadvantaged groups could influence the respondent view on the issues of EUT or PAS (98% vs 92%, p = 0.01). Discussion Gender is considered as a factor differentiating attitudes on EUT and PAS among final year medical students. from International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 1st International Congress on Brain and Behaviour Hyatt Regency Hotel, Thessaloniki, Greece, 20–23 November, 2003