Skip to main content

Table 5 Themes illustrating the experiences that influenced participants’ views

From: New Zealand medical students’ views of euthanasia/assisted dying across different year levels

Years 2 & 3

Themes generated answering ‘yes’ to supporting EAD

Example

Death of family member or friend

“I have family who have since passed away from complications of dementia and I saw how it negatively impacted my family. I know that my family member who had dementia, would have hated to see herself in that condition.”

Experience in rest home

“I worked in the psychogeriatric ward of a rest home where I saw people who would soil themselves, dribble, become violent etc. I would absolutely HATE to see one of my loved ones or myself in a situation like this.”

Formal medical school teaching (e.g. lectures or tutorials)

“Lectures in ELM2 and ELM3 Palliative care and ethics vertical modules”

Public discussion/personal study

“A lot of debate over in school as we studied a film (which I forgot the name of) which touched on this subject. Have read up on several articles after this.”

Themes generated answering ‘no’ to supporting EAD

Example

Formal medical school teaching (e.g. lectures or tutorials)

“I previously supported the law, but after discussion with a variety of people and lectures regarding palliative care I’ve come to change my opinion.”

Discussion with family or friends

“My grandparents worrying constantly that they are a burden to their kids and grandkids”

Death/suffering of family member or friend

“A friend committing suicide”

Discussion with doctors

“Spending time with medical physicians and ward nurses who do not support euthanasia for the reasons I have listed above.”

Themes generated answering ‘unsure’ to supporting EAD

Formal medical school teaching (e.g. lectures or tutorials)

“I was set on it being a good thing to legalise until we had our lecture on it in third year where I was forced to practically think about it.”

Public discussion/personal study

“Did a lot of research and debating about the issue in school”

Experience in rest home

“On the other hand, after working in the rest home with many degenerative/debilitating illnesses it should be a choice. I would want the choice.”

Death/Suffering of family member or friend

“I have been with family and non-family deaths. Of adults and children. Hospice and non-hospice. My grandmother’s passing from bowel cancer was managed beautifully by hospice, and with this management euthanasia wasn’t even something that would have been relevant. Children with significant disability and health conditions would be at risk in circumstances where they couldn’t clearly communicate. I just have concerns.”

Year 4 & 5

Themes generated answering ‘yes’ to supporting EAD

  Experience in clinical training (e.g. observations of and interactions with patients on ward rounds)

“I have seen palliative patients experience significant suffering prior to their “natural” death e.g. severe pain, intense discomfort, intractable bleeding. I do not believe it is humane to allow suffering in such terminal cases if the patient wishes to end their own life.”

  Death/suffering of family member or friend

“My grandfather had a stroke which left him paralyzed. Despite being of sound mind he could no longer move, something which would never improve. The last 6 months of his life were hell, without much joy and he was ready to go. I think he deserved the CHOICE, one last thing he could control if he wished to”

  Public discussion/personal study

“Newspaper story about a patient with motor neuron disease who had to resort to starving himself as he no longer wished to live”

  Formal medical school teaching (e.g. lectures or tutorials)

“Teaching on degenerative illnesses and palliative care”

Themes generated answering ‘no’ to supporting EAD

  Formal medical school teaching (e.g. lectures or tutorials)

“Teaching in medical school have also shaped my opinions around palliative care and given me a lot of confidence in it - I believe it could be better, but I think it is the best way forward.”

  Death/suffering of family member or friend

“I have a grandmother who was diagnosed with cancer 5+ years ago that at times has looked very unwell including needing a short stay in hospice care 4 years ago. She is the type of person who does not wish to burden others and I am convinced she would elect for physician assisted dying at the point she was admitted to hospice. She is still alive many years later and has managed to continue living at home with my grandfather who otherwise would be in a residential care facility. This has painted a pretty clear picture as to how vulnerable people’s lives could be ended early under this law change to the detriment of those around them and society in general.”

  Discussion with doctors

“Discussions with palliative care specialists”

  Public discussion/personal study

“I was pro-euthanasia and the law change prior to the euthanasia debate hosted at the Clinical Leadership Forum earlier this year in Wellington. There were top people in their fields from either side of the argument so it created an ideal environment to form an educated opinion.”

Themes generated answering ‘unsure’ to supporting EAD

  Experience in clinical training (e.g. observations of and interactions with patients on ward rounds)

“During my hospice visit in 4th year, we were assigned to visit a palliative patient in their home. I think they intended to show us how palliative care and hospice make a positive impact on patients’ lives, however I ended up visiting a patient who was absolutely depressed and suicidal. They had oesophageal cancer and couldn’t swallow any food which made them miserable. There was nothing the hospice could do to ease their suffering. This was the first time I thought that euthanasia would be a good option.”

  Formal medical school teaching (e.g. lectures or tutorials)

“Before I was a medical student I was very for this issue, I wanted it to become legal, because I thought people shouldn’t have their lives drawn out in suffering and have old people just waiting to die. When I became a medical student, the lack of education a lot of patients and family have around what doctors can do and medical ethics is very obvious”

  Discussion with family or friends

‘I know that my nan would want to choose assisted dying if she deteriorated to an unsatisfactory condition and then I think assisted dying would be good. But then I think about it as if I was the doctor …’

  Public discussion/personal study

“A panel at a medical leaders’ conference that included speakers Ben Gray and David Seymour. The discussions around anti-euthanasia about the emotional impact on doctors, the increase in health inequities and the happiness of patients when palliative care is done right all made me re-evaluate my position. And I haven’t settled on a position since then.”