The Psychology of Euthanasia

Abstract

Abstract. Voluntary euthanasia has been legalized in several countries and associated with this development there has been much discussion concerning the relationship between the ethical principle of autonomy and the respect for human life. Psychological science should make a significant contribution to understanding how polarizing positions may be taken in such debates. However, little has been written concerning the implications of this research for the euthanasia debate and about the contributions of psychology. In the same way, very little is written about the psychologist’s role in countries where voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide is legalized. We take as a starting assumption that there are no solutions that will meet everyone’s wishes or needs, but that an understanding of psychological ideas, can assist in developing strategies that may help people with opposing views come to some agreement. In our view, it is fundamental to a fruitful analysis, to leave aside a polarized approach and to understand that an eventual answer to the question of how we approach voluntary euthanasia will only be achieved after the hard process of carefully considering the consequences of having either legalized voluntary euthanasia or its prohibition, in the context of a psychological understanding.

Wish to Die: Suicide and Its Link to Euthanasia

“…If death ideation is commonly self-reported by patients as a response to suffering (Branigan, 2015), the same issue can be closely connected with those about the requests to hasten death. According to the results obtained in the literature review carried out by Ricou and Wainwright (2018), the main motivators of a wish to die are connected with patient suffering (e.g., pain) and the perception that patients have about the suffering they believe they cause others. The authors also identified important psychological dimensions that seem to be associated to the wish to die and argue about a possible role for the mental health professionals on this subject.…”

“…Another problem frequently identified has to do with establishing a satisfactory temporal interval upon which to rely on for assessing will to die. Taking into consideration the psychological motivators identified in the wish to die (Ricou & Wainwright, 2018), this issue assumes particular relevance. The determination of said interval, even though in an estimated form, is an important complement to individual scale and marker evaluation as it could contribute to a more accurate assessment of wish to die and the likelihood of its endurance over time.…”

“…Taking into account the aforementioned, the discussion about the link between suicide and euthanasia is crucial, both are conceptually similar and can arise from common motivators. In euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, the main motivators for a wish to die found by Ricou and Wainwright (2018) were a diagnosis of depression, the reduced functional status, the pain, the lower levels of social support, and the perception of loss of dignity. Either way, it can be said that the suicide act is the ultimate result of an intrinsic inability to adapt to a new and hostile life circumstance or context in which suffering is ever-present.…”

Política de Saúde Pública Brasileira Admite Mistanásia: Durante a pandemia COVID-19, a morte se revela

“…Social euthanasia has its etymology rooted in euthanasia (good death) (Ricou & Wainwright, 2019). In euthanasia, the medic facing the dilemma caused by the terminally ill and the suffering due to the illnesses, decide to end the life of the patient.…”

Spiritual Beliefs and Hastened Death: A Study on Medical Students

“…One of the most emergent topics of debate in modern societies is that of hastened death (Bulmer et al., 2017; Siden, 2005). Important arguments have been raised on both ends of the discussion (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012; Ricou & Wainwright, 2019), but the determinants of one’s standpoint in this matter have not been given full attention. An individual’s position in such matters should essentially be a complex end-product of personality traits, personal beliefs and environment.…”