Nursing open
Supporting a Different Type of Death: Experiences of Family Members of Recipients of Medical Assistance in Dying
By Powell TL, Stajduhar K, Prince M and 1 others.
Abstract
Aim
To explore the experiences of family members when a relative or close person receives medical assistance in dying.
Design
Guided by Interpretive Description methodology, this qualitative study was conducted across two settings. Participants included bereaved family members of individuals who received clinician-assisted medical assistance in dying when natural death was reasonably foreseeable and key informants connected to medical assistance in dying, palliative care and end-of-life organizations.
Methods
Data were collected between June 2020 and February 2021 through demographic surveys, in-depth interviews, documents and artifacts, field notes and analytic memos. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently and iteratively, supporting the development of practice-relevant interpretations of family members' experiences.