Moure Soengas A, Cernadas Ramos A. [Perception of medical students in Galicia (Spain) regarding conscientious objection to the voluntary termination of pregnancy].
GACETA SANITARIA 2019;
34:150-156. [PMID:
30962031 DOI:
10.1016/j.gaceta.2019.02.007]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To discover whether future doctors in Galicia (Spain) are willing to express conscientious objection to voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP). The medical students' level of knowledge regarding conscientious objection in health care was also examined, and their knowledge regarding the costs patients would incur if unable to exercise their right to VTP.
METHOD
Cross-sectional study by conducting a survey of 350 medical students in the 2nd and the 5th years of the Degree in Medicine at the University of Santiago de Compostela, in the academic year 2017-2018.
RESULTS
70.8% of those surveyed would not declare conscientious objection to VTP. In addition, 70% believe that conscientious objection to VTP can have negative consequences for pregnant women if they are referred from public to private healthcare. However, 72.9% support physicians having the right to declare their conscientious objection to VTP.
CONCLUSIONS
The problem of referring pregnant women to private healthcare, as a consequence of conscientious objection to VTP, is presented as critical in Spain, and in Galicia in particular. The future physicians showed that they strongly favoured not objecting to this healthcare practice, which will enable the problem to be resolved in the near future.
Collapse