Citation

Sperling D. Int. J. Public Health 2024; 69: e1607410.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.3389/ijph.2024.1607410

PMID

38978832

PMCID

PMC11228154

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Exploring the experiences, perceptions and meanings of family members and close friends of Israeli individuals who sought aid-in-dying outside Israel.

METHODS: Using the phenomenological-interpretive approach, a qualitative research design was employed, based on ten in-depth semi-structured interviews with Israelis who had provided support for a relative who embarked on suicide tourism.

RESULTS: The following five themes emerged from interviews: (1) facilitators for supporting an individual requesting suicide tourism; (2) choosing death and actively making the decision to die; (3) the meaning of traveling to die; (4) offering support throughout the process; and (5) facilitating procedures after death.

CONCLUSION: The participants spoke of the active role that they played in their relative's suicide-tourism journey. They conveyed conflicting emotions and values regarding the decision at hand, the ability to say goodbye thanks to their pre-planned death, helping to reduce their suffering and burden, and dealing with the challenge of disclosing the deceased's plans, before and after the act, as well as their own involvement in the process. Relatives of suicide-tourism patients should receive professional support during and following this difficult process.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Adult; Aged; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Attitude to Death; Interviews as Topic; Israel; assisted suicide; family members; Switzerland; suicide tourism; *Qualitative Research; *Family/psychology; *Decision Making; *Suicide, Assisted/psychology; aid-in-dying; Dignitas; grief and bereavement