Shakhiyeva A.M., Sydykov M.E., Dosmetov A.Zh.

Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty,Kazakhstan

MEDICAL STUDENTS` ATTITUDES TO EUTHANASIA

Attention to the euthanasia has increased with the development of public interest in the issues and the level of technology life support in critical care. Relevance of this topic is difficult to overestimate due to the fact that this problem is related to human life and its insufficient coverage in the media, and the almost complete relevant legal acts are out in the laws of many countries.

Purpose of this study is exploring the views of young people “for” and “against” euthanasia analyze ethical aspects of the problem on a statistical study of medical students.

For achieving the following objectives:

1.Analyze and systematize the existing literature on the issue of euthanasia in various fields of science – law, ethics, philosophy.

2.Apply the methods of questionnaire survey, interviews, content – analysis for the study of euthanasia as a social problem.

3.Determine the students’ knowledge of the medical school in legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on issues of ethics and deontology.

4.Consider the views of medical students in different age groups on the ethical aspects of euthanasia.

In scientific work investigated the levels of awareness of students concerning the legal framework Republic of Kazakhstan, identified priorities determining the social orientation and personal qualities of future doctors. Shows the different positions and opinions of students towards euthanasia.

Authors independently carried out a comparative analysis of the results. Developed goals, objectives and program of study, collected and processed primary material, the analysis of the collected material, formulated conclusions and inference. A clear, unified international definition of euthanasia still does not exist. Scope of the concepts covered by this term, is not the same, and the interpretation given by various authors are often incomplete and contradictory.

The term “euthanasia” was introduced in the XVII century by English philosopher Francis Bacon who was for light painless death, peaceful death without pain and suffering. Literally the term “euthanasia” ( from the Greek. Euthanasia, eu-good, thanatos-death) translated as “good dying” [1]. In the “Big Medical Encyclopedia” says: “Euthanasia- deliberate death acceleration of terminally ill people to end their suffering” [2]. “Big Law Dictionary” euthanasia called “compliance with a request to accelerate the patient’s death or the actions of agents, including the termination of artificial life-support measures” [3]. Euthanasia problem arose in antiquity. Even then, it caused much controversy among physicians, lawyers, philosophers, and so on. While the ratio for intentional acceleration of death of a terminally ill, even to end his suffering was never unequivocal [4,5].

At the Department of Public Health KazNMU medical-sociological study on the student’s opinions about the causes and forms of euthanasia was held by the fifth-year students under the guidance of a teacher. Developed and pre-tested in three groups of students a questionnaire contains 18 questions. The questionnaire included questions to determine the ratio of the leading medical school students to euthanasia.

In a survey of medical students, with the help of questionnaires 77 students of the third and fifth courses were interviewed 38 of them (47,5%) – 3^rd year students, 42 (52,5%) – 5^th year students, men accounted for 29 (37,7%), women 48 (62,3%), students in the age group 17-19 years old is 47,5% , 20-22 years old is 52,5 %.

Table 1 – Figures from various sources of awareness about the problems of euthanasia among students in their distribution over the courses (% of total)

№	Sources of awareness	Courses		Total
		3 cours	5 cours
1.	Media	21 (55,3%)	22 (56,4%)	43 (55,8%)
2.	Personally concerned	2 (5,3%)	2 (5,1%)	4(5,2%)
3.	Friends, acquaintances	2 (5,3%)	6 (15,4%)	8 (10,4%)
4.	Not familiar	6 (15,8%)	3 (7,7%)	9 (11,7%)
5.	Other	7 (18,3%)	6 (15,4%)	13 (16,9%)
	Total	38 (100%)	39 (100%)	77 (100%)

Main source of information about the problems of euthanasia students called media 43 (55,8%), 13 (16,9%) named other sources, 9 (11,7%) to our study were not familiar with this issue, mainly 3^rd year students (15,8%) table 1. In our study, a trend towards the predominance of “positive” responses among the students of the 5^th year on the question of the admissibility of euthanasia. The question: “Do you approve of euthanasia?” – responded positively – 52,4 (22) students, negative responses made 33,3% (14), undecided – 7,1% (3). 3^rd year students for the question: “Do you approve of euthanasia?” – responded positively – 42,1% (16) students, negative responses was 52,6% (20), were undecided – 5,3% (2). Only: yes 47,5% (38), no 42,5% (34), were undecided 6,25% (table 2).

Table 2 – Students’ attitude “for” and “against” euthanasia

№	Students’ answers “for” and “against” euthanasia	Courses		Total
		3 cours	5 cours
1.	Yes	7(18,4%)	11(28,2%)	18 (23,4%)
2.	Rather yes	9(23,7%)	11(28,2)	20 (26%)
3.	Rather not	7(18,42%)	7(17,9%)	14(18,2%)
4.	No	13(34,2%)	7 (17,9%)	20 (26%)
5.	Undecided	2(5,3%)	3 (7,7%)	5 (6,5%)
	Total	38 (100%)	39 (100%)	77 (100%)

Thus, the ratio of medical students to euthanasia changes with age in favor of the latter. With the number of supporters of euthanasia 5^th year students was higher than that of the 3^rd year students. 3^rd year students often speak against euthanasia

References:

1.Francis Bacon “Dignity and enhancement of science”, Soch. В 2 t. T. 1. M., 1971. Page 268.

2.Big Medical Encyclopedia. М., 1986. Т. 27. - Page. 555.

3.Big Law Dictionary. A.Suhareva, B.Krutskih. M 2002. Page.685.

4.Rybin B.A. Euthanasia. Medicine. Culture: Philosophical foundations of modern social and cultural crisis in medical and anthropological aspect. Chelyabinsk 2006. Page 392.

5.Zhil’ber A.P. Treatise on euthanasia. Petrozavodsk 1998. Page 464.