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Cited by 55Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthPalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesPalliative and Oncologic Care

Grief After Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Systematic Review

Open access
Andriessen, Karl, Krysinska, Karolina, Castelli Dransart, Dolores Angela, Dargis, Luc, Mishara, Brian L.·2020·Crisis
DOI 10.1027/0227-5910/a000630
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Abstract

Abstract. Background: Several countries have regulated euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS). Research has looked at the experiences of patients, family, and professionals. However, little is known of the effects on bereaved individuals. Aims: We aimed to assess (a) what is known about the grief and mental health of people bereaved by euthanasia or PAS and (b) the quality of the research. Method: Systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines with searches in Cinahl, Embase, PsycINFO, Pubmed, and Scopus. Results: The searches identified 10 articles (eight studies), and the study quality was fair. People bereaved by euthanasia/PAS generally had similar or lower scores on measures of disordered grief, mental health, and posttraumatic stress compared with those who died naturally. Lack of social support and secrecy may compound their grief. Being involved in the decision-making process and having the feeling of honoring the deceased's will may facilitate their grief. Limitations: Studies used self-reports from non-random self-selected participants, were retrospective, and were conducted in only three countries. Conclusion: There is little evidence of increased risk of adverse grief or mental health outcomes in people bereaved by euthanasia/PAS. As more countries legalize assisted dying, high-quality studies of the factors that may hinder or facilitate the grief process are needed.

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  • People bereaved by MAiD (but not MAiD-NT) generally had similar or lower scores on measures of disordered grief, mental health, and posttraumatic stress compared with those who died naturally.

    “Regarding the outcome, people bereaved by MAiD (but not MAiD-NT) generally had similar or lower scores on measures of disordered grief, mental health, and posttraumatic stress compared with those who died naturally [36].”

    From Debating Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Death in People with Psychiatric Disorders (2022) · cites this paper as [36]

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Faschingbauer, T. R., Zisook, S., & DeVaul, R. (1987). The Texas Re- vised Inventory of Grief. In S. Zisook (Ed.), Biopsychosocial as- pects of bereavement (pp. 127-138). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
  2. Higgins, J. P., & Green, S. (Eds.). (2011). Cochrane handbook for sys- tematic reviews of interventions Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). London, UK: The Cochrane Collaboration. Retrieved from http://handbook.cochrane.org
  3. Kuitert, H. M. (1994). Suïcide: Wat is er tegen? Zelfdoding in moreel perspectief (3rd rev. ed.) [Suicide: What is against it? Self-killing in moral perspective]. Baarn, The Netherlands: Ten Have.
  4. 0b013e3182a0f427 · DOI · Paper page
  5. Weiss, D. S., & Marmar, C. R. (1997). The Impact of Event Scale -Re- vised. In J. Wilson & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD (pp. 399-411). New York, NY: Guilford.
  6. Brian Mishara, PhD, is Director of the Centre for Research and Intervention on Suicide, Ethical Issues and End-of-Life Practices (CRISE) and Psychology Professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada. His research focuses on best practices in sui- cide prevention, helplines and new technologies, ethics, and med- ical assistance in dying. He consults and conducts suicide preven- tion training internationally. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/pdf/10.1027/0227-5910/a000630 -Karl Andriessen <karl.andriessen@gmail.com> -Monday, October 28, 2019 1:23:46 PM -IP Address:128.250.0.121 Author/s: · DOI
  7. Andriessen, K., Krysinska, K., Castelli Dransart, D. A., Dargis, L. & Mishara, B. L. (2019). Grief After Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. Crisis: the Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 41 (4), pp.255-272. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227- 5910/a000630. Persistent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/238597 File Description: Accepted · DOI

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Authors
Andriessen, K., Krysinska, K., Castelli Dransart, D. A., Dargis, L., & Mishara, B. L.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • School of Social Work Fribourg, HES-SO, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Centre de recherche et d’intervention sur le suicide, enjeux éthiques et pratiques de fin de vie (CA)
  • Université du Québec à Montréal (CA)
Corresponding author
Andriessen, Karl
ORCID
Venue
Crisis
Publisher
Hogrefe Publishing Group
Published
2020-07
Volume
41
Issue
4
Pages
255-272
ISSN
  • 0227-5910 (ISSN-L)
  • 2151-2396
DOI
10.1027/0227-5910/a000630
OpenAlex
W2982388603
Cited by
54
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3
FWCI
0.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Crisis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council (1157796)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
Keywords
grief, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, assisted dying, bereavement, mental health, post-traumatic stress, social support, secrecy, decision-making involvement
MeSH terms
Bereavement, Grief, Humans, Mental Health, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Suicide, Assisted, Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary

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