Perceptions and intentions toward medical assistance in dying among Canadian medical students

Abstract

Background Medical assistance in dying (MAID) was legalized in Canada in 2016. As of July 2017, approximately 2149 patients have accessed MAID. There remains no national-level data on the perspectives of future physicians about MAID or its changing legal status. We provide evidence from a national survey of Canadian medical students about their opinions, intentions, and concerns about MAID. Methods From October 2016 to July 2017, we distributed an anonymous online survey to all students at 15 of Canada’s 17 medical schools. The survey collected data on respondent socio-demographic characteristics, features of their medical education, intentions for medical practice, and perspectives on MAID. We analyzed responses using univariate descriptive and stepwise multivariate logistic regression. Results In 1210 completed surveys, 71% of respondents reported being willing to provide MAID under a legal framework that permits it. Non-religious respondents reported greater willingness to participate in MAID than respondents of any religious affiliation ( p < 0.001). Frequency of religious attendance was inversely associated with willingness to provide MAID ( p < 0.001). Medical students born in Québec were more willing to provide MAID than respondents from other provinces (OR 2.21; p < 0.001). Age, sex, socioeconomic status, year of medical study, previous academic major, and rural/urban city of birth were not associated with willingness to provide MAID. Conclusion As the current class of medical students becomes the first cohort of new physicians to enter Canada’s changing medical and legal landscape around MAID, our findings inform the public debate by examining attributes associated with support or opposition to the practice. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12910-019-0356-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Assessing attitudes towards medical assisted dying in Canadian family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study

“…Having additional years in clinical practice is likely to play a role in residents’ willingness to participate in MAID. Our study suggests that residents are more agreeable to participate in PHD than physicians in Canada (40.9% vs. 29%) [3] but less agreeable than Canadian medical students (71%) [22]. This should be interpreted with some caution, however, as each study’s phrasing of questions on MAID differed slightly and this is known to influence participants’ agreeability with MAID [15].…”

Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada

“…6 A recent survey of medical students showed that among Canada's new generation of doctors, 71% would offer MAiD. 7 Although provisions are in place to ensure physicians can decline to help on moral or religious grounds, researchers in Quebec found that the majority of physicians who refused to participate did not oppose MAiD. Rather, their expressed concern was "the emotional burden related to this act and the fear of psychological repercussions."…”

Medical assistance in dying legislation: Hospice palliative care providers’ perspectives

“…Many researchers have investigated the complex challenges that have resulted from the government of Canada's decision to legalize MAID. 8,9,[18][19][20] Our broader study also discovered that participants encountered many challenges, ethical dilemmas, and moral distress in navigating MAID. 6 Shaw et al 10 reported physicians' rewarding experiences providing MAID in British Columbia.…”