Ethnicity and attitudes toward patient autonomy

Article Abstract:

Elderly of various ethnic groups may differ on their attitudes toward medical decision making and health care involving terminal illness. Researchers interviewed a total of 200 Korean Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, and European Americans, aged 65 and older, residing in senior citizen centers in Los Angeles County. Medical decision making by Mexican-American and Korean-American participants tended to focus on the family, while decisions by African Americans and European Americans centered on patient autonomy. Korean Americans and Mexican Americans preferred that a patient not be informed of cancer that had spread or of any terminal diagnosis, instead leaving important decisions on life support up to the family. African Americans and European Americans expressed attitudes about telling the patient the truth and letting him or her make the decisions.

Health aspects, Demographic aspects, Terminal care, Ethnic attitudes, Minority aged, Minority elderly

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Medical Students' Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide

Article Abstract:

Many medical students favor the legalization of physician-assisted suicide and might be willing to prescribe a lethal drug when they become doctors if asked to do so. This was the conclusion of a survey of all medical students at Oregon Health Sciences University and fourth-year medical students at three US medical schools in other states. Oregon became the first US state to legalize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients in November 1994. About 65% of both groups of students favored the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. Oregon students were slightly less willing to prescribe a lethal drug than the other students.

Medical students, Surveys, Assisted suicide, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes

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