Physician-Assisted Suicide Does Not Increase
Severity of Depression, Grief Among Family
Among family members of those who received aid in
dying, 98% said they would consider it for themselves
Sept. 30, 2009 - Unlike other forms of suicide,
physician assisted death does not cause substantial regret, or a sense
of rejection among surviving family members. In addition, this new study
finds, the prevalence and severity of depression and grief among family
members whose loved ones received aid in dying is no different than
family members whose loved ones did not pursue physician assisted
suicide.
"Grief following the death of a loved one can be
persistent, painful and debilitating," said Linda Ganzini, M.D., a
professor of psychiatry and medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine and
lead author of the research paper.
"Prior studies on suicides indicate high levels of
shame, guilt, stigma and sense of rejection in surviving family members.
However, until now, little was known about mental health outcomes in the
family members of a patient who receives physician aid in dying. Based
on our research, we know that family members of loved ones who pursue
physician assisted suicide do not have different prevalence and severity
of depression and prolonged grief compared to the general population."
This study was conducted by researchers at Oregon
Health & Science University and published online this week in the
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
To conduct the study, researchers surveyed 95
family members whose loved ones requested aid in dying through Oregon's
Death with Dignity Act. This group included 59 family members whose
loved one received a lethal prescription and 36 whose loved one died by
lethal ingestion.
The researchers compared this information with
responses received from 63 family members whose loved one had died from
cancer or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) and had
not requested aid in dying.
In comparing survey results, the researchers found
that the rate of grief and depression between these two groups was
nearly identical. However, family members of loved ones who requested a
lethal prescription indicated they felt more prepared for and more
accepting of the death.
Among family members whose loved one requested but
did not receive a lethal prescription, there was greater likelihood that
the family members had regrets about how their loved one died. This
group also was less likely to confirm that the patient's preferences for
care were honored, and they gave a lower rating for overall quality of
care the last week of life.
"One of the other interesting findings in this
research was the fact that families often had shared views when it came
to the acceptability of physician aid in dying," added Ganzini.
"When we communicated with the family members of
those who received aid in dying, 98 percent said they would consider
physician assisted suicide for themselves."
This research was funded by the Greenwall
Foundation.
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Sept. 30, 2009 - Unlike other forms of suicide,
physician assisted death does not cause substantial regret, or a sense
of rejection among surviving family members. In addition, this new study
finds, the prevalence and severity of depression and grief among family
members whose loved ones received aid in dying is no different than
family members whose loved ones did not pursue physician assisted
suicide. 
