Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada
Background: Medical assistance in dying opens up uncharted professional territory for Canadian physicians extending their practices to include assisting and hastening death for eligible patients. Objectives: To understand physicians’ experience of participating in assisted dying and the emotional an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2020-03-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312120913452 |
| _version_ | 1818243666130501632 |
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| author | Rosanne Beuthin Anne Bruce Marie-clare Hopwood W David Robertson Katherine Bertoni |
| author_facet | Rosanne Beuthin Anne Bruce Marie-clare Hopwood W David Robertson Katherine Bertoni |
| author_sort | Rosanne Beuthin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medical assistance in dying opens up uncharted professional territory for Canadian physicians extending their practices to include assisting and hastening death for eligible patients. Objectives: To understand physicians’ experience of participating in assisted dying and the emotional and professional impact. Methods: An interpretive descriptive methodology and thematic analysis were used for this research. We interviewed eight physicians engaged in assessing and providing medical assistance in dying. Data were collected through audio taped, semi-structured interviews in person or by phone. Results: Three overarching themes included (1) rediscovering the art of medicine, (2) unexpected rewards, and (3) negotiating risks and challenges. Each theme has accompanying sub-themes. Conclusion: Medical assistance in dying is markedly different from other physicians’ practices in that it has an enriched capacity for caring. The process brings deep satisfaction characterized by intimate, personalized contact with patients and families. The professional rewards of providing medical assistance in dying outweigh the challenges, offering an alternative narrative to more publicly accepted views of assisting someone to die. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:04:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2225f5f24bf4b1fab7826679503a411 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3121 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:04:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2225f5f24bf4b1fab7826679503a4112022-12-22T00:22:16ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medicine2050-31212020-03-01810.1177/2050312120913452Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in CanadaRosanne Beuthin0Anne Bruce1Marie-clare Hopwood2W David Robertson3Katherine Bertoni4School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaOceanside Community, Royston, BC, CanadaGeography 3—Laboratory, Medical Imaging, and Pharmacy, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Duncan, BC, CanadaJack Petersen Health Clinic and School of Nursing, Faculty of Human & Social Development, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaBackground: Medical assistance in dying opens up uncharted professional territory for Canadian physicians extending their practices to include assisting and hastening death for eligible patients. Objectives: To understand physicians’ experience of participating in assisted dying and the emotional and professional impact. Methods: An interpretive descriptive methodology and thematic analysis were used for this research. We interviewed eight physicians engaged in assessing and providing medical assistance in dying. Data were collected through audio taped, semi-structured interviews in person or by phone. Results: Three overarching themes included (1) rediscovering the art of medicine, (2) unexpected rewards, and (3) negotiating risks and challenges. Each theme has accompanying sub-themes. Conclusion: Medical assistance in dying is markedly different from other physicians’ practices in that it has an enriched capacity for caring. The process brings deep satisfaction characterized by intimate, personalized contact with patients and families. The professional rewards of providing medical assistance in dying outweigh the challenges, offering an alternative narrative to more publicly accepted views of assisting someone to die.https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312120913452 |
| spellingShingle | Rosanne Beuthin Anne Bruce Marie-clare Hopwood W David Robertson Katherine Bertoni Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada SAGE Open Medicine |
| title | Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada |
| title_full | Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada |
| title_short | Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada |
| title_sort | rediscovering the art of medicine rewards and risks physicians experience of providing medical assistance in dying in canada |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312120913452 |
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