A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland

Abstract Background In Switzerland, people can be granted access to assisted suicide (AS) on condition that the person whose wish is to die performs the fatal act, that he has his decisional capacity and that the assisting person’s conduct is not selfishly motivated. No restrictions relating to the...

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Main Authors: Marie-Estelle Gaignard, Samia Hurst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-05-01
Series:BMC Medical Ethics
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12910-019-0367-9
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author Marie-Estelle Gaignard
Samia Hurst
author_facet Marie-Estelle Gaignard
Samia Hurst
author_sort Marie-Estelle Gaignard
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In Switzerland, people can be granted access to assisted suicide (AS) on condition that the person whose wish is to die performs the fatal act, that he has his decisional capacity and that the assisting person’s conduct is not selfishly motivated. No restrictions relating to the ground of suffering are mentioned in the act. Existential suffering as a reason for wanting to die, however, gives raise to controversial issues. Moreover, existential suffering lacks definition and no consensus exists on how to evaluate and manage it. This study explores the perspectives of care professionals and volunteers from a “right-to-die organization” on existential suffering as a motive for assisted suicide requests. Methods A qualitative study based on face-to-face interviews was conducted with twenty-six participants: palliative care and primary care providers as well as EXIT right-to-die organization volunteers. Elements from the grounded theory approach were used. Results The twenty-six participants described existential suffering in a multiplicity of individual ways. In total, sixty-three stories were recounted. Their representations were grouped into eight categories: physical decline and its consequences, loneliness, fear of the future, life is over, loss of social significance, loss of hope for a better future, being a financial burden and loss of pleasurable activities. According to all participants, suffering coming from the loss of self-identity was always linked to physical decline, as if one’s image completely defined someone’s identity. Society’s perception of old people and vulnerable people were also often questioned. Another interesting point was that only four stories referring to a “pure” existential suffering were found. This suffering was related to a feeling that life has come to an end, without identification of any other related restriction or suffering. Conclusions Existential suffering is multifaceted. Legislators and right-to-die organisations have to address the question of what make a AS acceptable. The plurality of existential suffering implies the need of a very personalized care. A better understanding of what it is made of could provide a “toolbox” to people concerned by these requests, helping them to explore it in order to offer suffering people a wider range of alternatives.
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spelling doaj.art-8bf1e81582c44f7ba7c387e192604d5f2022-12-22T00:18:26ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392019-05-012011810.1186/s12910-019-0367-9A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in SwitzerlandMarie-Estelle Gaignard0Samia Hurst1Institute for Ethics, History, and the Humanities, Institute for Biomedical Ethics, Geneva University Medical SchoolInstitute for Ethics, History, and the Humanities, Institute for Biomedical Ethics, Geneva University Medical SchoolAbstract Background In Switzerland, people can be granted access to assisted suicide (AS) on condition that the person whose wish is to die performs the fatal act, that he has his decisional capacity and that the assisting person’s conduct is not selfishly motivated. No restrictions relating to the ground of suffering are mentioned in the act. Existential suffering as a reason for wanting to die, however, gives raise to controversial issues. Moreover, existential suffering lacks definition and no consensus exists on how to evaluate and manage it. This study explores the perspectives of care professionals and volunteers from a “right-to-die organization” on existential suffering as a motive for assisted suicide requests. Methods A qualitative study based on face-to-face interviews was conducted with twenty-six participants: palliative care and primary care providers as well as EXIT right-to-die organization volunteers. Elements from the grounded theory approach were used. Results The twenty-six participants described existential suffering in a multiplicity of individual ways. In total, sixty-three stories were recounted. Their representations were grouped into eight categories: physical decline and its consequences, loneliness, fear of the future, life is over, loss of social significance, loss of hope for a better future, being a financial burden and loss of pleasurable activities. According to all participants, suffering coming from the loss of self-identity was always linked to physical decline, as if one’s image completely defined someone’s identity. Society’s perception of old people and vulnerable people were also often questioned. Another interesting point was that only four stories referring to a “pure” existential suffering were found. This suffering was related to a feeling that life has come to an end, without identification of any other related restriction or suffering. Conclusions Existential suffering is multifaceted. Legislators and right-to-die organisations have to address the question of what make a AS acceptable. The plurality of existential suffering implies the need of a very personalized care. A better understanding of what it is made of could provide a “toolbox” to people concerned by these requests, helping them to explore it in order to offer suffering people a wider range of alternatives.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12910-019-0367-9
spellingShingle Marie-Estelle Gaignard
Samia Hurst
A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland
BMC Medical Ethics
title A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland
title_full A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland
title_fullStr A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland
title_full_unstemmed A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland
title_short A qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in Switzerland
title_sort qualitative study on existential suffering and assisted suicide in switzerland
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12910-019-0367-9
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