[Euthanasia in mental health care: qualitative study exploring the opinion of psychiatrists]

There is a decrease in the degree to which treating psychiatrists are willing to perform euthanasia or assisted suicide themselves. There is a guideline that considers it desirable the patient’s own psychiatrist takes up the different phases of a euthanasia request. At the same time, there is an increase in applications to the Euthanasia Expertise Center by patients with a request for euthanasia on the basis of psychological suffering, resulting in a long waiting list.

To explore whether psychiatrists are prepared to investigate and carry out a request for euthanasia, and to determine which factors influence this.

We held in-depth interviews with 13 psychiatrists working at mental healthcare institutions.

Psychiatrists felt incompetent in going through the euthanasia process. They found investigating a request for euthanasia difficult in the context of their therapeutic relationship and the position of hope and perspective they wished to hold. Psychiatrists with experiences with the capriciousness of euthanasia wishes had a greater reluctance to perform euthanasia in the future.

Investigating a wish for euthanasia within the therapeutic relationship is complex for psychiatrists. There is a feeling of incompetence, ignorance and inexperience. There seems to be a great reluctance to euthanasia by the treating psychiatrist.