• Jonathan Singer, Courtney Daum, Amelia Evans, Sydnie Schneider, Margaret Vugrin, and Elizabeth Loggers.
• Department of Psychological Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
• Palliat Med. 2023 Jul 1; 37 (7): 947958947-958.

BackgroundMedical Aid in Dying is an end-of-life option that allows a physician to provide a patient with a prescription to end their life. Though Medical Aid in Dying intends to reduce suffering for a patient, opponents argue Medical Aid in Dying may increase suffering for the family members during bereavement. To better understand the bereavement outcomes for family members/friends following Medical Aid in Dying, an exhaustive review of the risk and protective factors for bereavement outcomes is warranted.AimThis systemic review aimed to identify studies that examined bereavement outcomes of family members of individuals who engage in Medial Aid in Dying, identify risk and protective factors for bereavement outcomes, and propose a theoretical model to enhance conceptual clarity.DesignA mixed-method systematic review.Data SourcesTen databases were searched on June 16, 2021 and later conducted two updates (latest April 25, 2022).ResultsThirteen articles met inclusion criteria. Risk and protective factors were identified pre-Medical Aid in Dying and risk factors post-Medical Aid in Dying. Few studies compared bereavement outcomes for family members of individuals utilizing Medical Aid in Dying to family members who lost someone to natural loss.ConclusionsThis study provides equivocal results about the effects of Medical Aid in Dying on family members following the loss. The theoretical model outlines potential risk and protective factors. This model provides a greater understanding of possible universal risk and protective factors for family members of individuals who engaged in Medical Aid in Dying.

11 keywords...

hide…