Former carers' views on assisted dying in dementia

• Main Author: Tomlinson, E. J.
• Other Authors: Stott, J. ; Spector, A.
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2013
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.755915

Overview This volume is in three sections. Part 1: The literature review examines the available research into the views of the general public, health professionals, people with dementia and carers towards assisted dying in cases of dementia. It considers the evidence for factors associated with people’s views. Seventeen studies of variable quality met the criteria for the review. Health professionals appear to hold the most restrictive views on assisted dying; however opinions within each population group are divided and associated with factors such as age, ethnicity, gender and religion. The methodological limitations of the reviewed studies are discussed and recommendations are made for further research. Part 2: The empirical paper reports on an exploratory qualitative study of former carers’ views on assisted dying in cases of dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 former carers; transcripts were analysed thematically. Whilst support for the right to die with dementia was common, the complexity of assisted dying in cases of dementia was also acknowledged. The motivating factors for and against an assisted death are revealed and former carers’ views about talking with a health professional if contemplating an assisted death are described. Part 3: The critical appraisal is a reflection on the process of designing and executing the research presented in Part 2. It discusses some of the methodological issues which arose during the study before finally attending to the influence of the research on the researcher, which reference to personal reflexivity.