Rediscovering the art of medicine, rewards, and risks: Physicians’ experience of providing medical assistance in dying in Canada

Abstract

Background: Medical assistance in dying opens up uncharted professional territory for Canadian physicians extending their practices to include assisting and hastening death for eligible patients. Objectives: To understand physicians’ experience of participating in assisted dying and the emotional and professional impact. Methods: An interpretive descriptive methodology and thematic analysis were used for this research. We interviewed eight physicians engaged in assessing and providing medical assistance in dying. Data were collected through audio taped, semi-structured interviews in person or by phone. Results: Three overarching themes included (1) rediscovering the art of medicine, (2) unexpected rewards, and (3) negotiating risks and challenges. Each theme has accompanying sub-themes. Conclusion: Medical assistance in dying is markedly different from other physicians’ practices in that it has an enriched capacity for caring. The process brings deep satisfaction characterized by intimate, personalized contact with patients and families. The professional rewards of providing medical assistance in dying outweigh the challenges, offering an alternative narrative to more publicly accepted views of assisting someone to die.