[Assisted Suicide during Treatment in a Psychiatric Day Clinic A Case Report and Clinical-Ethical Implications]

The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court permitting assisted suicide raises important questions regarding clinical and procedural standards in the care of vulnerable patients. In particular, the assessment of decision-making capacity in individuals with mental disorders presents significant challenges. This case report describes a patient with recurrent depressive disorder and histrionic personality disorder who died during day-clinic psychiatric treatment with the support of a right-to-die organization. The external psychiatric assessment was based on a single video consultation conducted twelve days prior to her death. The case illustrates how depressive symptomatology and ambivalent treatment attitudes may complicate the evaluation of a self-determined wish to die. It highlights the need for clear, context-sensitive criteria for assessing decisional autonomy, as well as reliable institutional quality assurance procedures.