Euthanasia: a panorama of emotional uncertainty in the students of the Veterinary Medicine program at UTMACH
Abstract
With the aim of analyzing the emotional uncertainty experienced by students in response to the practice of euthanasia in companion animals, a descriptive observational study was carried out. A structured survey was administered to 504 students enrolled in the Veterinary Medicine program at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of UTMACH. The sample was stratified according to academic semesters, ensuring adequate representativeness across the student population. Findings revealed that 100% of the respondents were familiar with the term “euthanasia” in some capacity. Moreover, 44.2% indicated that they would consider euthanasia only in cases where the animal exhibits a chronic or zoonotic condition. In addition, 45.5% of students reported not having received any formal instruction on euthanasia throughout their studies thus far, including 17 students currently in their third semester. Based on these findings, it is advisable to incorporate early and comprehensive training on the ethical and professional implications of euthanasia. Preparing students from the outset of their academic journey is essential to ensure they are equipped to manage such responsibilities competently and ethically, safeguarding both their professional efficacy and emotional resilience.
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References
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