Little is known about how young medical professionals view euthanasia (EUT) and assisted death activities. The aim of this study is to investigate and to compare Greek final year medical students and medical trainees' attitudes towards EUT and physician-assisted suicide (PAS).

To assess attitudes towards EUT and PAS we translated, adapted and modified, in a short version, the questionnaire developed by Ganzini et al (1996). The Greek version of the questionnaire consisted of 26 items. 251 final year medical students and 274 medical trainees completed the questionnaire. The survey was anonymous.

52% of medical students and 64% of medical trainees were for the acceptance of EUT. The view that PAS may be morally acceptable under some circumstances was endorsed by 76% of the students and by 79% of the trainees. 80% of the students and 81% of the trainees believed that withdrawing life sustaining medical treatments in terminally ill patients should be permitted. 54% and 38% of the students and trainees, respectively, believed that prescribing drugs to relieve pain in doses that may hasten death should be permitted.

A high percentage of the medical students and medical trainees were for the acceptance of EUT and PAS. Given the progress of legalization of EUT in many countries, the need for special education regarding many aspects of EUT is demonstrated.

The financial crisis that began in 2008 affecting many European countries and mainly Greece has an ongoing impact on public mental health and quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of the financial crisis on criminality verifying differences in crime rates between the years 2008 and 2011 in Greece.

Data on crime in Greece for 2008 and 2011 were provided by the Crime Analysis Section of the Public Security Department of the Hellenic Police Headquarters. In order to create a comprehensive global index of criminality we calculated an overall crime rate including the following crimes committed: homicides, financial crimes (fraud, extortion), drug-related crimes, illegal weapon possession, sex-related crimes (rape, sexual exploitation), thefts/ burglaries and robberies. The overall and the aforementioned specific crude crime rates were calculated per 100,000 residents. Paired samples t-test was used to examine the differences in the rates between 2008 and 2011.

A significant increase in the overall crime rate between 2008 and 2011 (t=5.01, p=0.001) was found. Moreover, between 2008 and 2011 there was significant increase in the crude rates of homicide (t=2.41, p=0.03), fraud (t=7.35, p=0.001), extortion (t=3.22, p=0.009), illegal weapon possession (t=5.27, p=0.001), theft/burglary (t=4.62, p=0.001) and robbery (t=3.23, p=0.007). There were not statistical differences in the crude rates of sex-related and drug-related crime.

According to the results of this study criminality in Greece shows significant increase during the current financial crisis as reflected in many crime indicators.

Since 2008 Greece has entered a long period of economic crisis with adverse effects on various aspects of daily life. In this frame it is quite important to examine the suicide trends in Greece during the period 1992-2012 with particular consideration given in the recent period of economic crisis [2008-2011].

Population data and crude data on suicides were obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (EL.STAT.). We assessed the Age-adjusted Standardized Suicide Rates (SSR). Age-adjustment was performed by the direct standardization method, using the European Standard Population (ESP). Trends in sex SSR were analyzed using joinpoint regression, in which trend data are characterized by a number of contiguous linear segments and join points (points at which trends change).

During the study period, 8025 cases of suicide occurred. Total SSR presented statistically significant annual decrease of 0.89% (95% CI -1.7, -0.1), during the period 1992-2009. After 2009 the trend in SSR increased statistically significantly (annual increase 12.48%, 95% CI 0.3%, 26.1%). SSR in males presented an initial period of modest annual decrease (-0.84%, 95% CI -1.6%, -0,1%), during the period 1992-2008. Joinpoint regression analysis revealed a change in male SSR trend during 2008, after which the average annual increase was 9.25% (95% CI 2.7% – 16,3%). No change in female SSR trend was observed during the studied period.

Data indicate a clear evidence of an increase of the overall suicide rates and male suicide rates in Greece during the period of the current financial crisis.