Young medical professionals' attitudes towards assisted death activities

Objective:Little is known about how young medical professionals view euthanasia (EUT) and assisted death activities. The aim of this study is to investigate and to compare Greek final year medical students and medical trainees' attitudes towards EUT and physician-assisted suicide (PAS).Methods:To assess attitudes towards EUT and PAS we translated, adapted and modified, in a short version, the questionnaire developed by Ganzini et al (1996). The Greek version of the questionnaire consisted of 26 items. 251 final year medical students and 274 medical trainees completed the questionnaire. The survey was anonymous.Results:52% of medical students and 64% of medical trainees were for the acceptance of EUT. The view that PAS may be morally acceptable under some circumstances was endorsed by 76% of the students and by 79% of the trainees. 80% of the students and 81% of the trainees believed that withdrawing life sustaining medical treatments in terminally ill patients should be permitted. 54% and 38% of the students and trainees, respectively, believed that prescribing drugs to relieve pain in doses that may hasten death should be permitted.Conclusions:A high percentage of the medical students and medical trainees were for the acceptance of EUT and PAS. Given the progress of legalization of EUT in many countries, the need for special education regarding many aspects of EUT is demonstrated.