Everyday ethics of suicide and medical aid in dying
Research team
Eric Racine, PhD (Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Université de Montréal, McGill University); Caroline Favron-Godbout, MA (Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Université de Montréal); Marjorie Montreuil, Nurse, PhD (Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, McGill University); Catherine P. Gros, Nurse, MSc(a) (Douglas Mental Health University Institute); Monique Séguin, Psychologist, PhD (Université du Québec en Outaouais)
Funding
Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood disorders, and Related Disorders (RQSHA); Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQ-S)
In this project, we examine the perspectives of healthcare workers related to medical aid in dying/assisted suicide for people who have severe and persistent mental health disorders. This project is developed in the context of Canada’s consultation of requests for medical aid in dying made by mature minors, patients for whom mental illness is the only medical condition, and advanced requests for a medically-assisted death.
A questionnaire was developed to study mental healthcare workers’ perspectives related to ethical issues in relation to caring for suicidal patients, including patients who wish to die based on mental suffering. We also seek to better understand the perceived needs for training and/or support from healthcare workers to address these issues. Throughout the project, healthcare workers from various disciplinary backgrounds are involved in the research process through participatory workshops to better align the project with their perspectives.
Publications
Montreuil Marjorie, Séguin Monique, Gros Catherine Pugnaire, Racine Eric. Survey of mental health care providers’ perspectives on the everyday ethics of medical aid in dying for people with a mental illness. Canadian Journal of Bioethics 2020;3:152-63. Read article.
Montreuil Marjorie, Séguin Monique, Gros Catherine, Racine Eric. Everyday ethics of suicide care: Survey of mental health care providers’ perspectives and support needs. PLOS ONE, 2021; 16:3, 1-13. Read article.
Diehl-Schmid Janine, Jox Ralf J., Gauthier Serge., Belleville Sylvie, Racine Eric, Schüle Cornelius, Turecki Gustavo, Richard-Devantoy Stephane. Munich-Montreal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada. Suicide and assisted dying in dementia: What we know and what we need to know. A narrative literature review. International Psychogeriatrics, 2017; 29(8): 1247-1259. Read article.
Saigle Victoria, Racine Eric. Ethical challenges faced by healthcare professionals who care for suicidal patients: A scoping review. Monash Bioethics Review, 2018; 35(1-4):50-79. Read article.
Saigle Victoria, Racine Eric. Identifying gaps in suicide research: A scoping review of ethical challenges and proposed recommendations. IRB : Ethics & Human Research 2017; 39(1): 1-9. Read article.
Saigle Victoria, Racine Eric. Ethics and suicide: Are we paying attention to the important issues? The Neuroethics Blog, the official blog of the American Journal of Bioethics Neuroscience, 2015. Read blog post.