TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the interplay of clinical, ethical and societal dynamics
T2 - two decades of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) on psychiatric grounds in the Netherlands and Belgium
AU - Verhofstadt, Monica
AU - Marijnissen, Radboud
AU - Creemers, Daan
AU - Rasing, Sanne
AU - Schweren, Lizanne
AU - Sterckx, Sigrid
AU - Titeca, Koen
AU - van Veen, Sisco
AU - Pronk, Rosalie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Verhofstadt, Marijnissen, Creemers, Rasing, Schweren, Sterckx, Titeca, van Veen and Pronk.
PY - 2024/9/11
Y1 - 2024/9/11
N2 - This paper explores recently emerging challenges in Medical Assistance in Dying on Psychiatric Grounds (MAID-PG), focusing on ethical, clinical, and societal perspectives. Two themes are explored. First, the growing number of young MAID-PG requestors and the public platform given to MAID-PG requests. Ethically, media portrayal, particularly of young patients’ testimonials, requires scrutiny for oversimplification, acknowledging the potential for a Werther effect alongside the absence of a Papageno effect. This highlights the need for better communication policies for media purposes. Second, cautionary considerations regarding psychiatric care adequacy are addressed. In MAID-PG this includes reasons underlying psychiatrist reluctance to engage in MAID-PG trajectories, leading to growing waiting lists at end-of-life-care centers. Addressing current shortages in psychiatric care adequacy is crucial, necessitating less narrow focus on short-term care trajectories and recovery beside transdiagnostic treatment approaches, expanded palliative care strategies, and integrated MAID-PG care.
AB - This paper explores recently emerging challenges in Medical Assistance in Dying on Psychiatric Grounds (MAID-PG), focusing on ethical, clinical, and societal perspectives. Two themes are explored. First, the growing number of young MAID-PG requestors and the public platform given to MAID-PG requests. Ethically, media portrayal, particularly of young patients’ testimonials, requires scrutiny for oversimplification, acknowledging the potential for a Werther effect alongside the absence of a Papageno effect. This highlights the need for better communication policies for media purposes. Second, cautionary considerations regarding psychiatric care adequacy are addressed. In MAID-PG this includes reasons underlying psychiatrist reluctance to engage in MAID-PG trajectories, leading to growing waiting lists at end-of-life-care centers. Addressing current shortages in psychiatric care adequacy is crucial, necessitating less narrow focus on short-term care trajectories and recovery beside transdiagnostic treatment approaches, expanded palliative care strategies, and integrated MAID-PG care.
KW - assisted suicide
KW - end-of-life care
KW - euthanasia
KW - Medical Aid in Dying
KW - mental illness
KW - psychiatry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85204898922&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1463813
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1463813
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85204898922
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 15
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
M1 - 1463813
ER -