“I thought I was ready”: Experiences and feelings of significant others and professionals on the assisted suicide day. Results from observations and interviews

Death Stud. 2025 Aug 19:1-14. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2025.2547236. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Based on observations and interviews with individuals present at the time of death, this article describes the various phases of the assisted suicide process in two Swiss cases, from preparation to medico-legal procedures after death. Throughout this process, relatives and professionals faced three main challenges: navigating uncertainty while co-constructing the process; managing emotions; and dealing with the moral and social complexities of assisted suicide. The results show that the experience was emotionally taxing, evoking more intense emotions than expected due to the moral and social complexity of the act, the lack of external support or the fact that putting their own feelings aside before and during the process led to delayed reactions later. Families and professionals should receive interdisciplinary, tailored psychosocial support, and professionals should undergo appropriate training.

PMID:40828133 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2025.2547236