Media portrayals of assisted suicide before, during, and after legalization changes: content analysis of the reporting in Austrian newspapers.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Assisted suicide (AS) was legalized in Austria in 2022 for adults in specific circumstances, adding Austria to a list of several countries where AS has recently been legalized. The topic has been discussed controversially in the Austrian public, which has been reflected in the media reporting. Information about the content of media reports on AS is currently lacking although it is important from a suicide prevention perspective. The aim of this study was to analyze newspaper media items on AS from Austrian daily newspapers based on media guidelines for the reporting on suicide and to adapt them in the process to the specific topic of AS.

Methods

Media items from 11 Austrian daily newspapers from the time period 2017 to 2022 were retrieved based on 12 predefined

SUBMITTER: Purcher P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12488708 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature