First, Do Not Abandon

Periyakoil, Vyjeyanthi S.

doi:10.1089/jpm.2007.9932

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…It adds to research evidence that suggests there is a need for increased education and training regarding MAID (40)(41)(42), suicide assessment in palliative and hospice care, and open communication about issues of suicide among hospice team members (29,43,44). This study supports previous research that indicates professionals do not abandon patients who seek to hasten death particularly when working in home settings (45,46). This is also the first study addressing suicide in home hospice settings where MAID is allowed; previous studies have not included legal MAID (43,47,48).…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 83%

Medical Aid in Dying, Hastened Death, and Suicide: A Qualitative Study of Hospice Professionals' Experiences From Washington State

Gerson

Preston

Bingley

2020

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

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Context Many jurisdictions around the world have passed medical aid in dying laws allowing competent, eligible individuals facing life-limiting illness to self-administer prescribed medication to control timing of death. These laws do not prevent some patients who are receiving hospice services from dying by suicide without assistance.Objectives To explore hospice professionals' experiences of patients who die by suicide or intentionally hasten death with or without legal assistance in an area where there is legalized medical aid in dying.Methods Semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with twenty-one home hospice professionals (7 nurses, 7 social workers, 4 physicians, 3 chaplains). Thematic analysis was carried out to analyze the data.Results Three primary themes were identified from the interviews: 1) dealing with and differentiating between hastened death and suicide, 2) medical aid in dying access and affordability, and 3) how patients have hastened their own deaths. Analysis of these data indicates there are some patients receiving hospice services who die by suicide because they are not eligible for, have no knowledge of, or lack access to legalised medical aid in dying.Hospice professionals do not consistently identify patients' deaths as suicide when they are self-inflicted and sometimes view these deaths as justified.3 Conclusion Suicide and hastened deaths continue to be an unexamined cause of death for some home hospice patients who may have requested medical aid in dying. Open communication and increased education and training is needed for palliative care professionals regarding legal options, issues of suicide and suicide assessment.

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Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 83%

Medical Aid in Dying, Hastened Death, and Suicide: A Qualitative Study of Hospice Professionals' Experiences From Washington State

Gerson

Preston

Bingley

2020

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

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“…The last meeting between a doctor and a patient facing imminent death is particularly uncomfortable and emotional for everyone [18]. How do we provide closure without seeming negative or making our patient feel abandoned?…”

Section: Saying Goodbyementioning

confidence: 99%

“When patients and families feel abandoned”

Epner

Ravi²

2010

Support Care Cancer

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These strategies can help us maintain healing relationships with our patients by maintaining their trust, confidence, and satisfaction. Cultivating relational aspects of medical practice requires an interchange and takes time. Experienced doctors know this and continue to do so because being present and staying with the patient during difficult times is a pillar of moral and ethical training and a fundamental attribute of a good physician.

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“…It is important for our patients to know that we are a witness to their suffering, and that they are not abandoned (Periyakoil, 2007; Back et al, 2009). As witnesses, we affirm the suffering of our patients, we witness, and we hear their lament.…”

Section: The Therapeutic Use Of Self: a Wholly Communionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In the nighttime of your fear: The anatomy of compassion in the healing of the sick

Kearsley

2011

Pall Supp Care

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First, Do Not Abandon

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Medical Aid in Dying, Hastened Death, and Suicide: A Qualitative Study of Hospice Professionals' Experiences From Washington State

Medical Aid in Dying, Hastened Death, and Suicide: A Qualitative Study of Hospice Professionals' Experiences From Washington State

“When patients and families feel abandoned”

In the nighttime of your fear: The anatomy of compassion in the healing of the sick

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