Medical students' attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide

Context In November 1994, Oregon became the first US state to legalize phys ician-assisted suicide (PAS) as an option for end-of-life care. Objective This study compares the attitudes and experiences of medical stud ents in Oregon regarding PAS to those of fourth-year medical students in th e United States outside Oregon. Design A survey of all students at the Oregon Health Sciences University an d fourth-year medical students at 3 non-Oregonian US medical schools. Participants Oregon medical students returned 227 questionnaires (58%), and 113 were returned from control schools (33%). Results A similar percentage of both study groups favored the legalization of PAS (64% vs 66%; P=.74). If the practice were legal, 55% of the total su rveyed reported they "might be willing to write a lethal prescription," (50 % Oregon students vs 60% control; P=.13 and 44% fourth-year Oregon students vs 60% control; P=.04). Among fourth-year students, 20% reported a request by a patient to the student or a preceptor for a lethal prescription in th e past year (26% vs 16%; P=.09). Conclusions This study demonstrates support for and willingness by many med ical students to participate in PAS. Some medical students reported observa tion of PAS during their training experience. Fourth-year Oregon students r eported significantly less willingness than other students to provide a pat ient with a lethal prescription, perhaps indicating hesitancy to include PA S in clinical practice.