Assessment of awareness and attitude o f medical students about physicians’ participation in capital punishments in India — a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: In the context of capital punishment in India, the involvement of physicians raises ethical concerns, given the fundamental principle of 'do no harm.' This study aims to evaluate the awareness and attitudes of undergraduate medical students in a Chennai-based medical college regarding physicians' participation in capital punishment. Methods: A survey employing Google Forms was conducted among 154 randomly selected medical students. The questionnaire, validated for content, comprised 13 statements assessing awareness and attitudes toward physicians' involvement in capital punishment. Descriptive analysis was applied to interpret the collected data. Results: The study revealed a notable lack of awareness among medical students concerning physicians' roles in capital punishment in India. Merely 19.3% of participants were knowledgeable about the various responsibilities physicians undertake in judicial hanging, including certifying the prisoner's fitness for hanging, confirming the prisoner's death post-hanging, and ensuring humane conditions for the execution. Despite limited awareness, the predominant attitude among participants was one of disapproval towards physicians' participation in capital punishment. Conclusion: This study underscores the inadequate awareness among medical students regarding physicians' involvement in capital punishment. Despite this limited awareness, the prevailing attitude among participants leans towards the disapproval of physicians participating in such practices.