The people speak: social media on euthanasia/assisted dying

Jaye, Chrystal; Lomax-Sawyers, Isabelle; Young, Jessica; Egan, Richard

doi:10.1136/medhum-2018-011565

Cited by 17 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…A broad and morally pluralistic outlook as our Dutch frame packages (table 1) provide seems uncommon. Perhaps not a coincidence, with euthanasia laws being recently accepted or taking effect, but two analyses from New Zealand and Canada, show resemblance with our results [36]. The study form New Zealand concerns a discourse analysis of social media in which citizens participate in the voluntary euthanasia debate.…”

Section: An International Comparison Of News Media Analysessupporting

confidence: 79%

Frames and Counter-Frames Giving Meaning to Palliative Care and Euthanasia in the Netherlands

Gorp

Olthuis

Vandekeybus

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Based on the case of palliative care and euthanasia in the Netherlands, this paper presents an analysis of frames and counter-frames used in the ongoing public debate about these two intertwined topics. Each (counter)frame presents a cultural theme that can act as a prism to give meaning to palliative care and/or euthanasia. Each frame comprehends a different problem definition, consequences and policy options. Typical word choices and metaphors are identified that can evoke these frames and the underlying reasoning. The frames do not belong to a specific stakeholder but a pattern can be seen in their use that is related to interests and ideology.Methods An inductive framing analysis was conducted of 2,700 text fragments taken from various Dutch newspapers, websites of stakeholders and policy documents in the period 2016-2018. After an extensive process of thematic coding, axial coding, selective coding and peer review seven frames and seven counter-frames about palliative care and euthanasia were constructed. Fifteen experts in the field of palliative and/or end-of-life care commented on the overview during a member check. Results Two frames about palliative care were constructed: the Fear of death frame, which stresses the hopeless ‘terminality’ of palliative care and the Heavy burden frame, in which palliative care is too big a responsibility for the relatives of the patient. In addition, two counter-frames were constructed: palliative care as a contributor to Quality of life and Completion. With regard to euthanasia, five frames were identified that lead to a problematising definition: Thou shalt not kill, Slippery slope, Lack of willpower, I am not God, and Medical progress. Five counter-frames offer a non-problematising definition of euthanasia in the debate: Mercy, Prevention, Triumph of reason, Absolute autonomy, and Economic utility thinking.Conclusions The debate in the Netherlands on euthanasia and palliative care is characterized by a plurality of angles that goes beyond the bipolar distinction between the pros and cons of euthanasia and palliative care. Only with an overview of all potential frames in mind can an audience truly make informed decisions. The frame matrix is not only useful for policy makers to know all perspectives when joining public debate, but also to health care workers to get into meaningful conversations with their patients and families.

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Section: An International Comparison Of News Media Analysessupporting

confidence: 79%

Frames and Counter-Frames Giving Meaning to Palliative Care and Euthanasia in the Netherlands

Gorp

Olthuis

Vandekeybus

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…We view these shared comments as social commentary and a legitimate piece of secondary data (von Benzon, 2019). The same approach has been used in a variety of research on sensitive topics such as sex-related subjects (Berdychevsky & Nimrod, 2017), attitudes of heterosexual men about prostitutes (Blevins & Holt, 2009), death and expression of grief (Radford & Bloch, 2012), loneliness and isolation (Janta et al, 2014), depression (Nimrod et al, 2012), the “deep web” for drug addiction (Orsolini et al, 2017), public attitudes on assisted dying (Jaye et al, 2019), and many others.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The influence of social media on such topical debates cannot be ignored as they reflect and exemplify public opinions on such issues in a complex and nuanced way (Jaye et al, 2019). With social media, issues that were previously confined to the margins of private discussion are now able to attract global support and attention (Snowden, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Netnographic Approach: Views on Assisted Dying for Individuals With Dementia

2020

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Alongside increasing rates of dementia diagnoses worldwide, efforts to seek alternative end-of-life options also increase. While the concept of assisted dying remains controversial, the discussion around its provision for people with dementia raises even more sensitivity. In this study, we explored how the practice of assisted dying for people with dementia is conceptualized and understood using the shared narratives of online contributors. An observational netnography over 20 months was carried out within five open Facebook communities. Thematic analysis was conducted on 1,007 online comments about assisted dying and dementia. Results reflected four central themes and five subthemes: understanding dementia; understanding assisted dying laws; caregivers’ feelings; and moral/personal dilemmas. Findings reveal that the majority of communities’ contributors fear developing dementia. They support the provision of advance euthanasia directives—written by competent patients—to prevent unnecessary suffering, and protect patients’ wishes and freedom of choice when decision-making competency is lost.

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“…Others focus on the potentially wider implications of the practice, such as the possibility that those who are vulnerable could be pressured into ending their own lives, or that the practice would reduce patients' trust in health‐care professionals, or otherwise reduce the quality of health‐care services. The recurrence of these arguments for and against has been reported in a recent study of social media posts on the debate …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recurrence of these arguments for and against has been reported in a recent study of social media posts on the debate. 9 Debate around these arguments is often confounded by a lack of agreement about what key terms and concepts mean and how they should apply, including how the various practices should be described. Here we are using the acronym EAD as the most general descriptor, but acknowledge that the terms represented may not be universally acceptable.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A citizens' jury on euthanasia/assisted dying: Does informed deliberation change people's views?

Walker

Egan

Young

et al. 2019

Health Expectations

Self Cite

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Euthanasia or assisted dying (EAD) remains a highly contentious issue internationally. Although polls report that a majority New Zealanders support EAD, there are concerns about the framing of the polling questions, and that those responding to the questions do not know enough about the situations described, the options available and the potential implications of EAD policy. One way to address these concerns is through a citizens' jury, which is a method of learning how a group of people view an issue following informed deliberation. This citizens' jury was conducted to learn whether a group of 15 New Zealanders thought the law should be changed to allow some form of EAD and the reasons for their view, having been informed about the issue, heard arguments for and against, and having deliberated together. The jury met for two and a half days. They did not reach a consensus, but become polarized in their positions, with several changing their positions to either strong opposition or strong support. The reasons why people support or oppose EAD were not reducible to particular principles or arguments, but reflected an integrated assessment of a range of considerations, informed by personal priorities and experiences. These results suggest that views on EAD may change in response to informed deliberation that the EAD debate involves a range of value judgments and is not likely to be resolved through deliberation alone. These results may inform international debate on EAD policy.

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The people speak: social media on euthanasia/assisted dying

Cited by 17 publications

References 27 publications

Frames and Counter-Frames Giving Meaning to Palliative Care and Euthanasia in the Netherlands

Frames and Counter-Frames Giving Meaning to Palliative Care and Euthanasia in the Netherlands

A Netnographic Approach: Views on Assisted Dying for Individuals With Dementia

A citizens' jury on euthanasia/assisted dying: Does informed deliberation change people's views?

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