Physician-Assisted Suicide Annotated Biblography

Muskin, P. R. (1998). The request to die: a role for a psychodynamic perspective on physician-assisted suicide. Jama.

This article examines and explores the underlying psychological factors of physician-assisted suicide from a psychodynamic perspective that may contribute to a patient’s desire for ending their own life with the assistance of a physician. The article curates a number of factors leading to a patient’s desire for assisted death that include feelings of hopelessness, unresolved conflicts of the patient, and existential concerns. Furthermore, the article highlights that through studies among terminally ill patients and a survey of oncology patients, it is found that intractable pain and depression are linked to an increased likelihood of considering a patient’s desire for physician-assisted suicide (Muskin, 1998). This source is useful and relevant to the selected topic as it provides insights into the psychological factors and motivations behind a patient’s wish and request to die. In summary, the article explicitly discusses that physicians’ responsibility is to recognize patients who request assisted suicide as they deserve a comprehensive and compassionate exploration of psychological factors.

Caplan, A. L., Snyder, L., Faber-Langendoen, K., & University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics Assisted Suicide Consensus Panel. (2000). The role of guidelines in the practice of physician-assisted suicide. Annals of Internal Medicine.

This research paper highlights the role and need for clear regulations and professional training in dealing with patients’ requests for physician-assisted death. The authors have conducted this study in collaboration with “The University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics Assisted Suicide Consensus Panel” to argue that while there has been an increase in reporting rates of physician-assisted suicide, there is still a lack of protocols and guidelines for healthcare providers and physicians in evaluating such requests of patients. The article states that Oregon has implemented and legalized physician-assisted suicide for interested patients. However, there is an urgent need for the consideration of some theoretical questions that what features should be reflected and what goals are proposed guidelines intended to serve for the achievement of goals (Caplan et al., 2000). The study is relevant to the topic of research as although physician-assisted suicide is legalized, however, the lack of guidance raises concerns about how to appropriately handle these rare requests of the patients and ensure that the evaluation process is conducted fairly, ethically, and with the most care.

Johnson, S. M., Cramer, R. J., Gardner, B. O., & Nobles, M. R. (2015). What patient and psychologist characteristics are important in competency for physician-assisted suicide evaluations? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law.

In the study, the authors aim to explore the factors that play a significant role in determining the competency of patients. They seek to understand the evaluations of physician-assisted suicide requests by the patients and the impacts of licensed psychologists and patient characteristics on the evaluation process. The researchers of the study aim to identify any potential areas of concern as well as improvement in current practices implemented and legalized in Oregon, Montana, and Washington. By examining the characteristics of both licensed psychologists and patients involved in physician-assisted suicide evaluations, the results of the study sought to provide valuable insights into decision-making processes as well as capacity and ethical considerations related to severely ill patients’ requests for assisted suicide (Johnson et al., 2015). The strength of this article is that researchers focus on the importance of consulting others particularly professional advisors such as licensed psychologists when evaluating aspects of competence in ill and depressed patients. They also highlight the importance and need for treatment of symptoms of mood disorder or depression. Hence, the research is a helpful source for patients, psychologists, physicians, and other care providers because it delves into the important factors and considerations that should be kept in mind while determining and evaluating the competency of patients for assisted suicide requests.

Breitbart, W., Rosenfeld, B. D., & Passik, S. D. (1996). Interest in physician-assisted suicide among ambulatory HIV-infected patients. The American journal of psychiatry.

The research study explores the thoughts and emotions of HIV-infected patients on physician-assisted suicide as the source found that a significant number of patients had contemplated ending their lives with the assistance of a physician. However, the desire was not necessarily linked to physical condition or the severity of the disease but the depression and psychological distress due to several social and clinical factors. The researchers conducted a survey of 378 ambulatory HIV-infected patients who had expressed an interest in assisted suicide as a means to end their suffering. This suggests the prevalence of interest in this practice and its association with psychological and depressive symptoms in the unhealthy population of patients. The results of the study suggest that the strongest predictors of assisted suicide interest in patients are hopelessness, pain-related functional impairment, suicidal ideation, psychological distress, and depression as other studies in this bibliography curate (Breitbart et al., 1996). Thus, this research study relates to the topic and the selected sources as it investigates the relationship between physician-assisted suicide and the presence of depressive symptoms in patients that lead to such life-ending requests.

Drickamer, M. A., Lee, M. A., & Ganzini, L. (1997). Practical issues in physician-assisted suicide. Annals of internal medicine.

Researchers of this study have discussed the challenges faced by physicians and healthcare providers in dealing with terminally ill patients who request assisted suicide to end their pain and suffering. The ethical controversies outlined in the study highlight the normative status of suicide and the ethical responsibilities of psychologists, physicians, and other care providers towards suicidal patients. The article highlights that physicians must be well-trained and open to discussion so that they can assess mental health, maximize palliative interventions, diagnose depression, and evaluate external social and psychological pressures on the patients requesting escape through assisted suicide (Drickamer et al., 1997). Moreover, the study also discusses the weakness in the care delivery system and provides alternative options available to patients who consider assisted suicide the only option to end their physical pain and psychological distress. It also presents the potential consequences of implementing this practice within the care delivery system. The article relates to the study as it meticulously emphasizes the importance of guidelines and protocols that caution against the routine practice of assisted suicide due to serious ethical, psychological, and other concerns associated with physician-assisted death.

References

Breitbart, W., Rosenfeld, B. D., & Passik, S. D. (1996). Interest in physician-assisted suicide among ambulatory HIV-infected patients. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 153(2), 238–242.

Caplan, A. L., Snyder, L., Faber-Langendoen, K., & Panel, U. of P. C. for B. A. S. C. (2000). The role of guidelines in the practice of physician-assisted suicide. Annals of Internal Medicine, 132(6), 476–481.

Drickamer, M. A., Lee, M. A., & Ganzini, L. (1997). Practical issues in physician-assisted suicide. Annals of Internal Medicine, 126(2), 146–151.

Johnson, S. M., Cramer, R. J., Gardner, B. O., & Nobles, M. R. (2015). What patient and psychologist characteristics are important in competency for physician-assisted suicide evaluations? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 21(4), 420.

Muskin, P. R. (1998). The request to die: Role for a psychodynamic perspective on physician-assisted suicide. Jama, 279(4), 323–328.