Suicide and euthanasia: Is it the consumer’s choice?

One hundred oncology patients from a major teaching hospital were asked about their attitudes to a number of final life events including active withdrawal from treatment, declining life support measures, suicide and euthanasia. A descriptive approach was used incorporating semi-structured interviews and established questionnaire measures. One third of patients anticipated some role for taking active steps to end their own lives. This was not restricted to those currently psychologically disturbed nor to any particular demographic subgroup. Those with the best prognosis at time of interview expressed the greatest potential interest in suicide and euthanasia. Psychiatric past history increased the potential for seeing suicide as an option.

The results have significant implications for the establishment of patient care protocols in final life events.