Conference Agenda

An increasing number of countries permit assisted dying in the form of assisted suicide and/or euthanasia/medical aid in dying. Consequently, more and more care providers, whether professionals or family members, are being asked to assist with or perform procedures related to assisted dying. When faced with a request, relatives and professionals mostly wonder : 'Should we let them go?' This sensitive question has relational, professional, organisational and societal implications beyond personal choice.

Indeed, requests for assisted dying generally raise a variety of issues potentially affecting relational and institutional dynamics. For example, care providers and involved institutions wonder how to respond and what is the most appropriate course of action. Drawing on our own research and literature, this presentation will address a range of issues important to both families and professionals. These include, among others, the personal and/or professional dilemmas associated with such situations; the issue of endorsement of such requests; the support that should be offered to the person requesting death; the decision-making and implementation process; the management and sharing of information, as well as the emotional and practical consequences on people involved in the process. Families and professionals face multiple challenges throughout the process, including navigating uncertainty, co-constructing legitimacy and meaning around the decision and the dying process, and managing the emotional, moral and broader social complexities of assisted dying. Indeed, the request concerns more than just the individual and their immediate circle of family and professionals. It also has wider implications for professional associations and institutions or care facilities, which are called to integrate this act into their standard practices where assisted dying is legal. Therefore, some organisational and broader social issues will also be addressed.