Acceptability of Assisted Suicide in Patients With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness: A Pilot Study on Attitudes Among Nurses in Switzerland
Abstract
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.
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Surveys of Swiss and Dutch psychiatrists reveal reluctance to support MAiD MD-SUMC, often citing limited familiarity with assessment procedures, uncertainty about patients' understanding and discomfort in predicting psychiatric prognoses.
“Surveys of Swiss and Dutch psychiatrists reveal reluctance to support MAiD MD-SUMC, often citing limited familiarity with assessment procedures, uncertainty about patients’ understanding and discomfort in predicting psychiatric prognoses.”
From Medical Assistance in Dying for the Sole Underlying Condition of Mental Disorder (MAiD MD-SUMC): an analysis and qualitative evidence synthesis (2026) · cites this paper as [57]
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Pawluk, A., Arksey, E., Jansens, H., Qiao, S., & McFarlane, L. (2026) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-105129
- Authors
- Gloeckler, S., & Trachsel, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Venue
- GeroPsych
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2021-06
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 83-90
- ISSN
- 1662-9647 (ISSN-L)
- 1662-971X
- OpenAlex
- W3093721954
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- GeroPsych (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Keywords
- assisted suicide, psychiatric nurses, moral attitudes, nurses' beliefs, end-of-life care, Switzerland
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