Request for medical assistance in dying after a suicide attempt in a 75-year-old man with pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Unintended consequences of the End of Life Choice Act

“…2 There has also been a case report of an older Canadian man with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who requested assisted dying after a suicide attempt. 3 Our first case had a diagnosis of depression, and we can conceptualise his wish to die as part of his depressive syndrome. Our second case had chronic death wishes but no clear diagnosis of depression.…”

Symptom Burden and Complexity in the Last 12 Months of Life among Cancer Patients Choosing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Alberta, Canada

“…An advanced cancer diagnosis is often accompanied by decisions regarding additional cancer therapies and the reality of what end-of-life care may look like once treatment options for extension of life have been exhausted [2]. The literature suggests that advanced cancer is often associated with suffering [3][4][5]. Suffering can be multidimensional and related to physical symptoms, such as pain and fatigue, but also encompasses psychological distress, existential concerns, and social-relational concerns [3][4][5].…”

“…The literature suggests that advanced cancer is often associated with suffering [3][4][5]. Suffering can be multidimensional and related to physical symptoms, such as pain and fatigue, but also encompasses psychological distress, existential concerns, and social-relational concerns [3][4][5]. Such suffering experienced by patients living with advanced cancer can manifest into the desire for death.…”