Oregon physicians' responses to requests for assisted suicide: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• The Oregon Death with Dignity Act (1997) permits physicians to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients.
• Understanding physician experiences with assisted suicide requests is crucial for improving end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore physicians' reactions and emotional responses to patient requests for assisted suicide.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 Oregon physicians who had received assisted suicide requests.
• Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative methods.

Main Results:

• Physicians often felt unprepared, experiencing apprehension and discomfort related to symptom management and patient abandonment.
• Assisted suicide requests were time-intensive and emotionally demanding, yet physicians reported no major regrets.
• Requests facilitated end-of-life discussions, enhancing physicians' confidence in addressing these issues.

Conclusions:

• Physicians' engagement with assisted suicide requests profoundly impacts their practice and emotional well-being.
• Despite challenges, the process can lead to improved communication and confidence in discussing end-of-life care.
• Physicians primarily sought emotional support from spouses rather than colleagues.