[Attitudes of students of medicine, sociology and jurisprudence towards autopsy].
Attitudes of students of medicine, sociology and jurisprudence towards autopsy.


METHODS
The autopsy is an important instrument of quality control in medicine. Nevertheless, we observe a dramatic decrease of post-mortem examinations. Because physicians take a important role as mediators, we tried to examine the attitudes of medical students towards autopsy and possible differences to students of other faculties.


METHODS
Data of medical students (n = 335), students of jurisprudence (n = 95), and of sociology (n = 26) at Leipzig University were collected with the help of a specially elaborated questionnaire >>Post-mortem Examination<< (Fragebogen zur Sektion, FBZS), and two questionnaires >>Death and Dying<< (Fragebogen zu Tod und Sterben, FIMEST) and >>Personality<< (Persönlichkeitsfragebogen, Giessen-Test).


RESULTS
Referring to the attitudes towards post-mortem examination there is only a slight difference between students of the above-mentioned faculties. Even preclinical students showed no difference with their attitudes towards autopsy compared to the students of other faculties and they showed lack of knowledge and ethical doubts towards autopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the significant lack of knowledge of the medical students of the University of Leipzig it seems questionable, if they will be able to convince relatives to give consent to an autopsy in later activity as physicians. More instructional work during study and further medical education should be done.
Mende
A
A
Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Intensiv- und Schmerztherapie, Städtisches Klinikum St. Georg, Leipzig, Germany.
Laubach
W
W
Friedrich
T
T
D001293:Attitude to Death; D001344:Autopsy; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D012961:Sociology; D013334:Students; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires