Display options
Cite
Gutierrez Castillo A, Gutierrez Castillo J. Active and Passive Euthanasia: Current Opinion of Mexican Medical Students. Cureus. 2018;10(7):e3047doi: 10.7759/cureus.3047.
Gutierrez Castillo, A., & Gutierrez Castillo, J. (2018). Active and Passive Euthanasia: Current Opinion of Mexican Medical Students. Cureus, 10(7), e3047. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.3047
Gutierrez Castillo, Alejandro, and Gutierrez Castillo, Javier. "Active and Passive Euthanasia: Current Opinion of Mexican Medical Students." Cureus vol. 10,7 (2018): e3047. doi: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.3047
Gutierrez Castillo A, Gutierrez Castillo J. Active and Passive Euthanasia: Current Opinion of Mexican Medical Students. Cureus. 2018 Jul 25;10(7):e3047. doi: 10.7759/cureus.3047. PMID: 30263878; PMCID: PMC6156117.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Cureus. 2018 Jul 25;10(7):e3047. doi: 10.7759/cureus.3047.

Active and Passive Euthanasia: Current Opinion of Mexican Medical Students.

Cureus

Alejandro Gutierrez Castillo, Javier Gutierrez Castillo

Affiliations

  1. Escuela De Medicina, Instituto Tecnológico Y De Estudios Superiores De Monterrey, Nuevo León, MEX.
  2. Escuela De Medicina, Instituto Tecnológico Y De Estudios Superiores De Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, MEX.

PMID: 30263878 PMCID: PMC6156117 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.3047

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The idea to accelerate the process of death in a terminally ill patient is an issue that has polarized societies since ancient times. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the opinion of medical students from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, about passive euthanasia, active euthanasia, and their personal posture on the topic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using a three-part questionnaire, 1,319 medical students of the first three years of medical school, from three of the four medical schools in the state, were interviewed. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, religion, and the personal posture of the student on active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, and their personal posture on the topic.

RESULTS: Of those interviewed, 44.4% were in favor of active euthanasia, 52.1% of passive euthanasia, and 44.8% had a positive personal posture on the topic. Age and grade were not significant variables for the posture of the students, but the variable gender showed a predominantly positive posture in the male subgroup for active (p=0.001) and passive euthanasia (p=0.031). Religion and the importance of religion/spirituality in daily life were the most significant factors (p<0.005) for the interviewees to hold a negative posture in each of the three scenarios. The legal nature of the scenario (p=0.000) and respect for patient's autonomy (p=0.000) were the most important arguments that could change an original negative posture into a positive one.

Keywords: bioethics; clinical ethics; euthanasia; medical student; mexico; physician assisted death; religion

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

  1. Curr Oncol. 2011 Oct;18(5):206-7 - PubMed
  2. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015 Mar;49(3):555-61 - PubMed
  3. BMC Med Ethics. 2009 Mar 05;10:2 - PubMed
  4. Med Health Care Philos. 2013 May;16(2):225-30 - PubMed
  5. Arch Med Res. 2008 May;39(4):452-8 - PubMed
  6. Indian J Palliat Care. 2009 Jan;15(1):41-50 - PubMed
  7. J Aging Health. 2008 Apr;20(3):290-305 - PubMed
  8. J Med Ethics. 1995 Feb;21(1):49-54 - PubMed
  9. J R Soc Med. 2007 Jan;100(1):25-8 - PubMed
  10. Arch Med Res. 2013 Aug;44(6):475-8 - PubMed

Publication Types