Family physician in Vancouver, BC.
Internal medicine resident at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Can Fam Physician. 2018 Sep;64(9):e380-e386.
To explore the experiences, wishes, fears, and beliefs of people who requested and were eligible for medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada in the first year after legalization.
Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.
A clinic in Vancouver, BC, that provides MAID.
People requesting and eligible for MAID between February 6 and December 17, 2016. Family and friends who were identified as the patients' primary support people were also interviewed.
Semistructured interviews were conducted over the telephone, by e-mail, or in person. The interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed and then analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. The investigators read the transcripts and created a coding scheme to identify themes in the patients' experiences. The identified themes were compiled and evaluated in the context of what is already known based on current literature. Basic demographic characteristics were recorded for context.
Of the 23 patients whose experiences were explored, most had a malignancy, a neurologic disorder, or organ failure. A main theme was that patients thought it was important to have autonomy and control over their own end-of-life decisions. Main reasons for requesting MAID were a self-perceived unacceptable quality of life, most commonly owing to loss of independence, mobility, ability to communicate, a sense of purpose, and participation in meaningful activity. Some people expressed fear of future suffering and future disability. Pain was seldom mentioned as a cause of suffering. Some participants believed they could discuss their decision with the people in their lives while others chose to keep it a private matter. Most people were not religious.
The participants' reasons for choosing to pursue MAID were consistent with those of people in other jurisdictions that have been studied. They felt confident in their decision to pursue MAID and did not have fears about the process.
探索在加拿大合法化后的第一年，有资格请求并接受医疗辅助死亡（MAID）的人对其的经历、愿望、恐惧和信念。
使用半结构化访谈的定性研究。
不列颠哥伦比亚省温哥华的一家提供 MAID 的诊所。
2016 年 2 月 6 日至 12 月 17 日期间请求并符合 MAID 条件的人。还采访了被确定为患者主要支持人员的家属和朋友。
通过电话、电子邮件或亲自进行半结构化访谈。访谈进行了录音和转录，然后使用主题定性分析进行分析。调查人员阅读了转录本，并创建了一个编码方案，以确定患者体验中的主题。在现有文献的基础上，根据已有的知识，对识别出的主题进行了编译和评估。记录了基本的人口统计学特征以作背景参考。
在所探讨的 23 名患者中，大多数患有恶性肿瘤、神经系统疾病或器官衰竭。一个主要主题是，患者认为对自己的临终决策拥有自主权和控制权非常重要。请求 MAID 的主要原因是自我感知的生活质量不可接受，最常见的原因是丧失独立性、行动能力、沟通能力、目标感和参与有意义的活动的能力。有些人表示担心未来的痛苦和未来的残疾。很少有人将疼痛作为痛苦的原因。一些参与者认为他们可以与生活中的人讨论他们的决定，而另一些人则选择将其保密。大多数人没有宗教信仰。
参与者选择追求 MAID 的原因与其他已研究的司法管辖区的人一致。他们对自己追求 MAID 的决定充满信心，并且对该过程不感到恐惧。
