Attitudes towards physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in Spanish university students / Actitudes hacia la eutanasia y el suicidio medicamente asistido en estudiantes universitarios españoles / Atitudes em relação a eutanásia e suicídio medicamente assistido em estudantes universitários espanhóis

Abstract Attitudes toward physician-assisted death among medical students differ between populations. The aim of this study was to explore attitudes towards euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide among Spanish university students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by asking undergraduate students (Medicine, Nursing and Law) of the University of Santiago de Compostela to complete an anonymous 17-item questionnaire. Most participants exhibited a positive attitude towards physician-assisted suicide (54%) and euthanasia (75%), as well as towards their legalization. Attitudes were consistent with the underlying ethical reasoning, with no differences in terms of age, gender or academic degree. In addition, consistency was found between attitudes and willingness to participate in physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, should they be legal. The results showed that the attitudes of medical students towards euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide were positive and similar to non-medical students.

Resumen La actitud de los estudiantes de Medicina ante a la muerte médicamente asistida difiere entre poblaciones. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido explorar las actitudes hacia la eutanasia y el suicidio médicamente asistido en estudiantes universitarios españoles. Se realizó una encuesta transversal en estudiantes de grado (Medicina, Enfermería y Derecho) de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela que completaron un cuestionario anónimo de 17 preguntas. La mayoría de los participantes mostraron una actitud positiva hacia el suicidio médicamente asistido (54%) y la eutanasia (75%), así como hacia su legalización. Las actitudes fueron coherentes con los argumentos éticos, no encontrando diferencias en relación con la edad, el sexo o la titulación. Asimismo, las actitudes estaban de acuerdo con la intención de participar en estos procedimientos, si fueran legales. Los resultados muestran que la actitud de los estudiantes de medicina hacia la eutanasia y el suicidio asistido es positiva y similar a la de estudiantes de enfermería y derecho.

Resumo A atitude dos estudantes de medicina ante a morte medicamente assistida difere entre populações. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar as atitudes para a eutanásia e o suicídio medicamente assistido em estudantes universitários espanhóis. Foi realizada uma pesquisa transversal em estudantes de graduação (medicina, enfermagem e direito) da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela que completaram um questionário anônimo de 17 perguntas. A maioria dos participantes mostrou atitude positiva para o suicídio medicamente assistido (54%) e a eutanásia (75%), bem como para a sua legalização. As atitudes foram coerentes com os argumentos éticos, não encontrando diferenças em relação a idade, sexo ou titulação. Assim mesmo, as atitudes estavam de acordo com a intenção de participar nestes procedimentos, se fossem legais. Os resultados mostram que a atitude dos estudantes de medicina para a eutanásia e o suicídio assistido é positiva e similar à de estudantes de enfermagem e direito.

Características y consecuencias de la violencia de género: estudio de casos confirmados por sentencia judicial / Features and consequences of gender violence: study of cases confirmed by a conviction

Introducción. La violencia de género constituye un importante problema de salud pública con un gran impacto sociofamiliar y económico. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar las características y circunstancias del maltrato, incluyendo a los sujetos implicados (víctima y agresor) y su relación de pareja, así como las peculiaridades del abuso y sus consecuencias lesivas. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo, de tipo descriptivo, de los casos clasificados como violencia de género por la Fiscalía de Área de Santiago de Compostela, durante el período 2005-2012. Se analizaron 398 casos de violencia de género con sentencia firme condenatoria. Resultados. Las víctimas eran, sobre todo, mujeres jóvenes (media 36,6 años), de nacionalidad española (82,91%), casadas (39,70%), con hijos (69,85%), empleo remunerado (40,45%) y nivel socioeconómico bajo (53,52%). Los agresores tenían una edad media de 39,5 años, con predominio de españoles (85,93%), de nivel socioeconómico bajo (37,44%). En el momento de la agresión, el 56,03% de las parejas convivían y un 62,22% compartía la vivienda con los hijos. El maltrato, fundamentalmente combinación de abuso físico y psicológico (43,72%), se produjo sobre todo en el domicilio (65,08%) y fue presenciado por terceras personas (64,57%). Como consecuencia de la agresión, el 53,02% de las mujeres sufrieron lesiones físicas, básicamente contusiones o hematomas (41,21%), localizadas principalmente en los miembros superiores (26,88%) y en la cara (24,37%). Conclusiones. La información obtenida sobre las características y circunstancias del maltrato es fundamental para adaptar, en base a la evidencia, las medidas de intervención y tratamiento de este problema (AU)

Introduction. Gender violence is a major public health problem with a significant socio-family and economic impact. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics and circumstances of abuse, including the subjects involved (victim and aggressor), their intimate relationship, as well as the peculiarities of abuse and its harmful consequences. Material and methods. Retrospective and descriptive study of cases classified as gender violence from the prosecutor's office of Santiago de Compostela between 2005 and 2012. A total of 398 cases of gender violence with a final conviction were analysed. Results. Victims were mainly young women (mean age 36.6 years), of Spanish nationality (82.91%), married (39.70%), with children (69.85%), employed (40.45%) and with low socioeconomic status (53.52%). Aggressors had an average age of 39.5 years, were predominantly Spanish (85.93%) and of low socioeconomic status (37.44%). At the time of abuse, 56.03% of the couples lived together and 62.22% shared the house with children. The maltreatment, mainly a combination of physical and psychological abuse (43.72%), occurred most often at home (65.08%) and was witnessed by others (64.57%). As a result of the aggression, 53.02% of women suffered physical injuries, generally bruises or haematomas (41.21%) located mainly on the upper limbs (26.88%) and face (24.37%). Conclusions. The information obtained on the characteristics and circumstances of abuse is an essential step in order to formulate evidence-based intervention and treatment strategies (AU)

Intimate partner violence against women in Spain: A medico-legal and criminological study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant worldwide problem whose magnitude and risk factors vary across different settings and cultures. Nowadays, it is a priority to improve the knowledge on this issue in order to formulate better evidence-based policy responses. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of non-fatal IPV against women in Spain. A retrospective analysis of IPV cases with a final judicial decision was carried out. The period under study extended from January 2005 to December 2012, with a total of 582 files included in the investigation. Most IPV victims were young adult women of Spanish origin, either married or single, with children, unemployed and with a low family income level. The majority of alleged perpetrators were young adults, employed, with a middle-low income level, a history of alcohol consumption/abuse, but no criminal records. Most victims had previous history of IPV, were engaged in a long-term relationship with their abuser and lived with him at the time of assault. The combination of psychological and physical abuse was the most frequent form of violence. The most common mechanisms of assault consisted in minor acts of physical violence, which resulted in mild injuries, most of them in the upper limbs and face. Nearly half of women sought medical care, but physician's injury report was only made in about a quarter of these cases, even though it is mandatory for health professionals. The majority of criminal proceedings were initiated by the victim's report and ended in conviction, most of them being considered occasional mistreatment. This study confirms the heterogeneity of the phenomenon of intimate partner violence. The importance of adopting standard IPV concepts and promoting the recognition and assessment of this form of violence amongst health care professionals, criminal investigators and forensic personnel is emphasized.