Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) (which includes euthanasia and assisted suicide) is available in an increasing number of countries. In Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland (and was due to be implemented in Canada from 2024) eligibility includes mental suffering in the absence of any physical...

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Main Authors: Roland M. Jones, Alexander I. F. Simpson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2024-10-01
Series:BJPsych Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469424000238/type/journal_article
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author Roland M. Jones
Alexander I. F. Simpson
author_facet Roland M. Jones
Alexander I. F. Simpson
author_sort Roland M. Jones
collection DOAJ
description Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) (which includes euthanasia and assisted suicide) is available in an increasing number of countries. In Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland (and was due to be implemented in Canada from 2024) eligibility includes mental suffering in the absence of any physical disorder. There are particular ethical and legal issues when considering MAiD for those involuntarily detained in prisons and hospitals. We describe four recent cases that illustrate these complexities, and highlight issues of equivalence of healthcare and self-determination against concerns about the criteria for determining eligibility of those with non-terminal conditions as well as the objections raised by victims and families and the demands for justice.
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spelling doaj-art-3d5ab5c58c444f278c322e7848861fbf2024-12-16T13:18:44ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Bulletin2056-46942056-47082024-10-014830030510.1192/bjb.2024.23Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent casesRoland M. Jones0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3335-4871Alexander I. F. Simpson1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0478-2583Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaMedical assistance in dying (MAiD) (which includes euthanasia and assisted suicide) is available in an increasing number of countries. In Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland (and was due to be implemented in Canada from 2024) eligibility includes mental suffering in the absence of any physical disorder. There are particular ethical and legal issues when considering MAiD for those involuntarily detained in prisons and hospitals. We describe four recent cases that illustrate these complexities, and highlight issues of equivalence of healthcare and self-determination against concerns about the criteria for determining eligibility of those with non-terminal conditions as well as the objections raised by victims and families and the demands for justice.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469424000238/type/journal_articleEuthanasiaassisted suicidepsychiatry and lawprisoncorrectional centre
spellingShingle Roland M. Jones
Alexander I. F. Simpson
Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
BJPsych Bulletin
Euthanasia
assisted suicide
psychiatry and law
prison
correctional centre
title Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
title_full Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
title_fullStr Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
title_full_unstemmed Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
title_short Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
title_sort assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases
topic Euthanasia
assisted suicide
psychiatry and law
prison
correctional centre
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469424000238/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT rolandmjones assisteddeathforprisonersandforensicpatientscomplexityandcontroversyillustratedbyfourrecentcases
AT alexanderifsimpson assisteddeathforprisonersandforensicpatientscomplexityandcontroversyillustratedbyfourrecentcases