Abstract
To understand the factors associated with interest in assisted suicide among terminally ill patients, we surveyed 50 caregivers of decedent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients from Oregon and Washington regarding perceptions of patients' interest in assisted suicide and their physical and emotional state in the last month of life. For 38 caregivers, we had baseline information from the patients themselves, gathered a median of 11 months before death, regarding depression, hopelessness, sense of burden, social support, quality of life, pain, and suffering. According to our respondents, one-third of ALS patients discussed wanting assisted suicide in the last month of life. Hopelessness and interest in assisted suicide at baseline predicted desire for assisted suicide later on. ALS patients who were interested in assisted suicide, compared to those who were not, had greater distress at being a burden to others and more insomnia, pain, and discomfort other than pain.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 312-317 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Pain and Symptom Management |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2002 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Caregivers
- Hopelessness
- Pain
- Physician-assisted suicide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
- Nursing(all)
Cite this
Predictors and correlates of interest in assisted suicide in the final month of life Among ALS patients in Oregon and Washington. / Ganzini, Linda; Silveira, Maria J.; Johnston, Wendy S.
In: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Vol. 24, No. 3, 01.09.2002, p. 312-317.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors and correlates of interest in assisted suicide in the final month of life Among ALS patients in Oregon and Washington
AU - Ganzini, Linda
AU - Silveira, Maria J.
AU - Johnston, Wendy S.
PY - 2002/9/1
Y1 - 2002/9/1
N2 - To understand the factors associated with interest in assisted suicide among terminally ill patients, we surveyed 50 caregivers of decedent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients from Oregon and Washington regarding perceptions of patients' interest in assisted suicide and their physical and emotional state in the last month of life. For 38 caregivers, we had baseline information from the patients themselves, gathered a median of 11 months before death, regarding depression, hopelessness, sense of burden, social support, quality of life, pain, and suffering. According to our respondents, one-third of ALS patients discussed wanting assisted suicide in the last month of life. Hopelessness and interest in assisted suicide at baseline predicted desire for assisted suicide later on. ALS patients who were interested in assisted suicide, compared to those who were not, had greater distress at being a burden to others and more insomnia, pain, and discomfort other than pain.
AB - To understand the factors associated with interest in assisted suicide among terminally ill patients, we surveyed 50 caregivers of decedent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients from Oregon and Washington regarding perceptions of patients' interest in assisted suicide and their physical and emotional state in the last month of life. For 38 caregivers, we had baseline information from the patients themselves, gathered a median of 11 months before death, regarding depression, hopelessness, sense of burden, social support, quality of life, pain, and suffering. According to our respondents, one-third of ALS patients discussed wanting assisted suicide in the last month of life. Hopelessness and interest in assisted suicide at baseline predicted desire for assisted suicide later on. ALS patients who were interested in assisted suicide, compared to those who were not, had greater distress at being a burden to others and more insomnia, pain, and discomfort other than pain.
KW - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - Caregivers
KW - Hopelessness
KW - Pain
KW - Physician-assisted suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036758257&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036758257&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0885-3924(02)00496-7
DO - 10.1016/S0885-3924(02)00496-7
M3 - Article
VL - 24
SP - 312
EP - 317
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
SN - 0885-3924
IS - 3
ER -