Assisted dying

Assisted Suicide Study Questions Its Use for Mentally Ill by Benedict Carey

Raneem Baalbaki

Carey, Benedict. “Assisted Suicide Study Questions Its Use for Mentally Ill” The New York Times, 10 February 2016.

In this newspaper article by Benedict Carey, a former science reporter for The Times and a health and medical writer for The Los Angeles Times, a freelance journalist, and a staff writer for Heath Magazine, he begins by explaining how assisted suicide for those with psychological disorders is becoming something talked about more and more. At least three countries — Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland — allow assisted dying for those suffering mentally and places such as Canada are debating whether to take that step. Carey goes to on explain cases of patients who had different types of mental disorders that coexist with each other, and they described living with the disorder.

– “The depression was often mixed with other problems, like substance abuse, mild dementia or physical pain. More than half had received a diagnosis of a personality disorder, like avoidant or dependent personality, which are typically bound up with relationship problems. The group also included people with diagnoses of eating disorders and autism spectrum conditions. Many reported being intensely lonely” (Carey).

– “A team of doctors…reported that most people who sought doctor-assisted death for psychiatric problems had depression, personality disorders or both” (Carey).

Public and Physicians Support for Euthanasia in People Suffering from Psychiatric Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study by Evenblij et al.

Raneem Baalbaki

Evenblij, Kirsten et al. “Public and Physicians Support for Euthanasia in People Suffering from Psychiatric Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study” BMC Medical Ethics, vol. 20, 11 September 2019.

In this Journal Article, five research psychologist from Amsterdam University’s medical center wanted to study whether the public would support assisted suicides for patients who suffer from mental disorders. they handed out surveys to the public and physicians. Their results showed that most of the public believed people with psychiatric disorders should be eligible for assisted suicides and the majority of psychiatrists thought that if no other options where available then they should respect their patients request. I think this journal article will be helpful for me in my final essay because it shows both sides to the story. Whether it be the public—people who don’t know the medical side of things—or the psychiatrists—the people who can decide whether all options have been thought through—the majority still believe it should be a patient’s decision at the end of the day.

– “The general public shows more support than opposition as to whether patients suffering from a psychiatric disorder should be eligible for [assisted suicides] …Physicians’ support depends on their specialization; 39% of psychiatrists considered performing [assisted suicides]” (Evenblij et al.).

– “Of the general public 53% were of the opinion that people with psychiatric disorders should be eligible for EAS, 15% was opposed to this, and 32% remained neutral” (Evenblij et al.).

When Death Is Sought: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the Medical Context by New York State

Raneem Baalbaki

New York State Task Force on Life and the Law. “The Epidemiology of Suicide” When Death Is Sought: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the Medical Context, New York State, April 2011, pp. 11.

In this book by the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, chapter one talks about what it means to be suicidal and the thought process behind it. Suicide is the eighth leading causa of death in the U.S. Suicide is not the result of a little problem or a crisis someone is going through. Personal characteristics are associated with a higher risk of committing suicide. Society has tried its best to prevent suicide and has even seen attempts as a cry for help or the need for psychiatric treatment. Because of this the thought of patients being allowed to go through with assisted suicides seems wrong and seems to challenge the belief that suicide should be prevented. This book chapter goes into detail about suicide and how assisted suicides challenge society’s beliefs and norms, and this is information that will be very helpful for me in my final essay.

– “The common stimulus to suicide is intolerable psychological pain.  Suicide represents an escape or release from that pain” (New York State 11)

– “Studies that examine the psychological background of individuals who kill themselves show that 95 percent have a diagnosable mental disorder at the time of death.  Depression, accompanied by symptoms of hopelessness and helplessness, is the most prevalent condition among individuals who commit suicide” (New York State 11)