Medical assistance in dying for people with mental disorders: Recent developments from a participatory action research project in bioethics involving key stakeholders

Problem:
The expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to people living with mental disorders is scheduled for March 2024 in Canada. This expansion raises a variety of concerns, as well as a need to be prepared to deal with morally concerning situations that could arise when MAiD is considered in a context of mental disorders. In order to develop a support tool for people living with mental disorders, their relatives and some healthcare professionals, a participatory action research project in bioethics was undertaken.

Methods:
Participatory action research design based on 3 key phases: 1) focus-groups aimed at identifying the concerns of people living with mental disorders, relatives and healthcare professionals, then involving these people in the development of a draft support tool, 2) a community consultation aimed at soliciting comments from 10 to 15 groups of key informants to complete the support tool, 3) a preliminary use and evaluation of the support tool.

Results:
This presentation will put forward the main results of the first phase of the project, which included 9 focus-group sessions (3 with each stakeholder group). The discussions allowed to tackle questions about stakeholders’ concerns related to MAiD for mental disorders, their needs to alleviate these concerns, and their ideas about the type of support tool and the content most likely to meet their needs.

Conclusion:
We will conclude by reflecting on results acquired thus far as well as the participatory research experience on such a sensitive topic.

Catherine Perron – Direction de la qualité, évaluation, performance et éthique – Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Laval; Eric Racine, PhD – Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit – Montreal Clinical Research Institute