An investigation on the cognition and attitude of medical students to euthanasia

Objective: To investigate the cognition and attitude of medical students to euthanasia,analyze the possible influencing factors,and provide reference for nursing ethics education.Methods: The cognition and attitude toward euthanasia of 526 undergraduates from a medical college were investigated using a self-designed questionnaire.Results: Among the 526 respondents,the awareness rate of euthanasia was 63.9%,and the respondents had a limited understanding on euthanasia.94.3% of the respondents believed that the life right belonged to the individual,while the right of deciding own life and death in respondents was uncertain.Respondents acknowledged that the euthanasia was a cross-disciplinary and controversial tissue,63.9% of the respondents approved euthanasia,and 63.5% of the respondents thought that the legislation of euthanasia in China was very necessary.58.7% of the respondents thought that choosing euthanasia depended on the specific conditions,64.6% of the respondents would not initiatively recommend their relatives to choose euthanasia,but they supported their decision.Conclusions: Most respondents have some understanding for euthanasia,and the cognition on the death and euthanasia in medical students is limited because of the influence of traditional ideas.The attitude on euthanasia of respondents is rigorous.It is necessary to strengthen the ethical and death education among the medical students,and rightly guide students to understand death and euthanasia.