INTERNAL-MEDICINE, PSYCHIATRY, AND EMERGENCY-MEDICINE RESIDENTS VIEWSOF ASSISTED DEATH PRACTICES

Background: Although studies have revealed conflicting attitudes withi n the medical community regarding assisted death practices in the Unit ed States, the views of current resident physicians have not been desc ribed. Objective: To investigate the perspectives of residents from 3 medical specialty fields regarding the acceptability of assisted suici de and euthanasia practices as performed by 4 possible agents (the res ident personally, a referral physician, physicians in general, or nonp hysicians in general) in 6 patient scenarios. Method: An anonymous sur vey exploring responses to 6 patient vignettes was conducted with a co nvenience sample of all residents in the internal medicine, psychiatry , and emergency medicine training programs. Results: A total of 96 res idents, 72% of those asked, participated in this study. Overall, resid ents expressed opposition or uncertainty regarding assisted suicide an d euthanasia. The residents were disinclined to directly perform such practices themselves and did not support the conduct of assisted suici de practices by nonphysicians. Respondents were somewhat more acceptin g of other physicians' involvement in assisted death activities. Confl icting views were expressed by residents, with emergency medicine resi dents more likely to support assisted suicide practices in 4 of 6 pati ent vignettes than either internal medicine or psychiatry residents. R esidents who reported being influenced by religious beliefs (21 respon dents [22%]) did not support assisted death practices, whereas those i nfluenced by personal philosophy (74 respondents [77%]) expressed less opposition. Conclusions: This study explores the uncertainty and diff ering views of residents from 3 fields about physician-assisted suicid e practices. Study findings are considered within the larger literatur e on clinician attitudes toward assisted suicide and euthanasia.