Claudia Gamondi1, Murielle Pott2, Karen Forbes3, Sheila Payne4. 1. Palliative Care Department, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ticino, Switzerland Palliative Care Service, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland. 2. Clinical Research Unit, Haute Ecole de Santé Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland. 3. Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. 4. International Observatory on End of Life Care, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In Switzerland, helping with assisted suicide under certain conditions is not prosecuted. With approximately 300 cases annually, this leaves behind a large group of bereaved people where its consequences are mostly unknown. The study aimed to explore family involvement in decision making prior to assisted suicide, and to examine their ways of coping during the bereavement period. METHODS: A qualitative interview study used the principles of Grounded Theory analysis. Eleven relatives of eight patients, who died in Southern Switzerland after assisted suicide, participated in semistructured interviews. RESULTS: The large majority of family members faced moral dilemmas during the decision-making phase. Their respect for patient's autonomy was a key justification to resolve dilemmas. Two types of involvement were identified: categorised as 'passive' when the decision making was located with the patient, and 'active' when assisted suicide was proposed by the family member and/or the relative was involved in some way. The relatives reported feelings of isolation during and after assisted suicide. Family members reported fear of social stigma and did not openly disclose assisted suicide as the cause of death. None of those interviewed received formal psychological support. CONCLUSIONS: Bereaved families express moral dilemmas, feelings of isolation and secrecy in the management of assisted suicide in Southern Switzerland. These features seem underestimated and not sufficiently recognised by the healthcare professionals. Management of assisted suicide requests should include consideration of family members' needs, in addition to those of the patient. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
BACKGROUND: In Switzerland, helping with assisted suicide under certain conditions is not prosecuted. With approximately 300 cases annually, this leaves behind a large group of bereaved people where its consequences are mostly unknown. The study aimed to explore family involvement in decision making prior to assisted suicide, and to examine their ways of coping during the bereavement period. METHODS: A qualitative interview study used the principles of Grounded Theory analysis. Eleven relatives of eight patients, who died in Southern Switzerland after assisted suicide, participated in semistructured interviews. RESULTS: The large majority of family members faced moral dilemmas during the decision-making phase. Their respect for patient's autonomy was a key justification to resolve dilemmas. Two types of involvement were identified: categorised as 'passive' when the decision making was located with the patient, and 'active' when assisted suicide was proposed by the family member and/or the relative was involved in some way. The relatives reported feelings of isolation during and after assisted suicide. Family members reported fear of social stigma and did not openly disclose assisted suicide as the cause of death. None of those interviewed received formal psychological support. CONCLUSIONS: Bereaved families express moral dilemmas, feelings of isolation and secrecy in the management of assisted suicide in Southern Switzerland. These features seem underestimated and not sufficiently recognised by the healthcare professionals. Management of assisted suicide requests should include consideration of family members' needs, in addition to those of the patient. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bereavement; assisted suicide; family; hasten death; interviews
Authors: Joseph C Masdeu; Allen J Aksamit; Alan C Carver; Kathleen M Foley; Joseph S Kass; Raymond A Martin; Elizabeth A McCusker; Michael P McQuillen; Raja Mehanna; Richard Payne; Stephen J Victor; Steven Warach Journal: Neurology Date: 2019-09-17 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Tharshika Thangarasa; Sarah Hales; Eryn Tong; Ekaterina An; Debbie Selby; Elie Isenberg-Grzeda; Madeline Li; Gary Rodin; Sally Bean; Jennifer A H Bell; Rinat Nissim Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2021-07-21 Impact factor: 5.128