Establishing irremediable psychiatric suffering in the context of medical assistance in dying in the Netherlands: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Establishing irremediability of suffering is a central challenge in determining the appropriateness of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for patients with a psychiatric disorder. We sought to evaluate how experienced psychiatrists define irremediable psychiatric suffering in the context of MAiD and what challenges they face while establishing irremediable psychiatric suffering.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study of psychiatrists in the Netherlands with experience assessing irremediable psychiatric suffering in the context of MAiD. We collected data from in-depth, semistructured interviews focused on the definition of irremediable psychiatric suffering and on the challenges in establishing irremediability. We analyzed themes using a modified grounded theory

SUBMITTER: van Veen SMP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8985907 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature