Citation

Gloeckler S, Trachsel M. GeroPsych (Bern) 2021; 34(2): 83-90.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Hogrefe Publishers)

DOI

10.1024/1662-9647/a000248

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In Switzerland, assisted suicide (AS) may be granted on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis. This pilot study explored the moral attitudes and beliefs of nurses regarding these practices through a quantitative survey of 38 psychiatric nurses. The pilot study, which serves to inform hypothesis development and future studies, showed that participating nurses supported AS and valued the reduction of suffering in patients with severe persistent mental illness.

FINDINGS were compared with those from a previously published study presenting the same questions to psychiatrists. The key differences between nurses responses and psychiatrists may reflect differences in the burden of responsibility, while similarities might capture shared values worth considering when determining treatment efforts. More information is needed to determine whether these initial findings represent nurses views more broadly. © 2021 Hogrefe Publishing GmbH. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; case report; quality of life; insomnia; psychotherapy; pilot study; suicidal ideation; assisted suicide; schizophrenia; nursing; major depression; lithium; anorexia nervosa; disease severity; clozapine; social isolation; nurse; mental disease; questionnaire; risk; dying; antidepressant agent; neuroleptic agent; psychiatrist; clinical article; serotonin uptake inhibitor; tricyclic antidepressant agent; venlafaxine; automutilation; priority journal; quetiapine; haloperidol; attitude to death; Switzerland; treatment refusal; drug megadose; atypical antipsychotic agent; underweight; muscle weakness; nurse attitude; autonomy; futility; aripiprazole; unspecified side effect; Article; patient decision making; patient autonomy; convulsive therapy; severe persistent mental illness