Family member involvement in hastened death

Death Stud. 2007 Feb;31(2):105-30. doi: 10.1080/07481180601100483.

Abstract

When patients pursue a hastened death, how is the labor of family care-giving affected? The authors examined this question in a qualitative study of 35 families. Four cases reveal the main themes: "taking care" included mutual protection between patients and family members; "midwifing the death" without professional support left families unprepared for adverse events; "tying up loose ends" included dealing with family members' fear of legal consequences; and "moving ahead" involved a greater risk of complicated grief when families encountered complications during the dying process. These results highlight the positive and negative consequences of family members' participation in a hastened death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Euthanasia, Active* / psychology
  • Euthanasia, Passive* / psychology
  • Family Relations*
  • Humans
  • Suicide, Assisted* / psychology
  • Terminal Care / psychology
  • United States