Euthanasia requests from psychiatric patients in Flanders: motives, experiences, management and outcomes (FWOAL892)

Fifteen years since the Belgian Act on Euthanasia came into effect, the practice remains a highly controversial issue and poorly understood particularly when it concerns psychiatric patients, whose death requests penetrate the core problems related to the euthanasia law. The overarching objectives of this FWO PhD Fellowship proposal are to establish a thorough scientific understanding of (a) euthanasia practice and consultation in psychiatric patients, (b) the risk and protective factors for patients requesting euthanasia, and (c) the meaning and impact of the (management of) euthanasia requests. The methodology will consist of (1) a quantitative registration study at Flemish end-of-life consultation centres, (2) a quantitative survey that maps the nature and extent of unbearable suffering (key criterion in granting euthanasia requests), and (3) a qualitative interview study with involved psychiatric patients as well as physicians experienced in handling such euthanasia requests. The study will thereby provide highly needed tools for registration, assessment, monitoring and evaluation purposes to be used in both clinical practice and further research. In doing this, the study will contribute towards improving the quality, uniformity and
transparency of care and procedures for this extremely vulnerable patient group.

Keywords:Psychiatric patients, Euthanasia

Disciplines:Psychiatry and psychotherapy not elsewhere classified