Attitudes toward assisted suicide requests in the context of severe and persistent mental illness: A survey of psychiatrists in Switzerland

Hodel, M A; Hoff, Paul; Irwin, S A; Biller-Andorno, Nikola; Riese, Florian; Trachsel, Manuel

doi:10.5167/uzh-171120

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Hodel, M. A., Hoff, P., Irwin, S. A., Biller-Andorno, N., Riese, F., & Trachsel, M. (2019). Attitudes toward assisted suicide requests in the context of severe and persistent mental illness: A survey of psychiatrists in Switzerland. Palliative & Supportive Care, 17, 621–627. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951519000233

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Switzerland is among the few countries worldwide where a request for assisted suicide (AS) can be granted on the basis of a primary psychiatric diagnosis. Psychiatrists play an increasingly important role in this regard, especially when the request for AS arises in the context of suffering caused by severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). The objective of the survey was to assess general attitudes among psychiatrists in Switzerland regarding AS requests from patients with SPMI. METHOD: In a cross-sectional survey of 1,