Human terminality and death from the perspective of medical professors

Abstract

This paper is the result of exploratory field research, with a mixed method of data collection and analysis, carried out with medical professors, with the aim of diagnosing and understanding how the subjects of human terminality and death are treated in the undergraduate medical course with a view to thinking about education for death in the student's academic training, as well as in the practice of medical professors. For this purpose, the sample consisted of 20 volunteer participants. Data collection took place through a questionnaire via Google Forms with twenty-six questions. The qualitative data analysis was content, and the quantitative data were expressed by frequency and percentage. The results indicate that physicians seek information and try to find out about the subject, despite being very objective when defining death. Many of them also revealed that this topic was not addressed in their graduation and, therefore, they consider it relevant to prepare the student on this subject.