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Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness
Kotze, Carla. 2025. Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch Univeristy [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132597
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614079731892224 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Kotze, Carla |
| author2 | Hall, S. |
| author_browse | Hall, S. Kotze, Carla |
| author_facet | Hall, S. Kotze, Carla |
| author_sort | Kotze, Carla |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Kotze, Carla. 2025. Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch Univeristy [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132597 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132597 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:20.037Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132597 Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness Kotze, Carla Hall, S. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. Applied Ethics. Assisted suicide -- Moral and ethical aspects Mentally ill -- Care Psychiatric ethics Right to die -- Moral and ethical aspects UCTD Kotze, Carla. 2025. Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch Univeristy [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132597 Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The topic of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) as their sole medical diagnosis has garnered increasing attention in recent years, raising complex ethical and clinical considerations. This growing interest stems from the recognition that individuals with SMI may experience profound suffering and a desire for end-of-life options, while also acknowledging the unique challenges posed by mental health conditions in the context of MAiD. The ethical dimensions of this issue encompass various aspects, including respect for patient autonomy, the assessment of decision-making capacity in individuals with SMI, the nature of unbearable suffering in mental illness, and the promotion of dignity in end-of-life care. Central to the debate are concerns about diagnostic and prognostic uncertainties in mental health, the potential for treatment refusal, and the influence of external factors on requests for MAiD. The role of psychiatrists in end-of-life care for individuals with SMI is also a critical consideration, as is the importance of advance care planning and palliative care options. Additionally, the establishment of robust reporting requirements is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in the provision of MAiD for individuals with SMI. As this complex issue continues to evolve, recommendations for best practices and ethical guidelines are needed to navigate the challenges and ensure that the rights and well-being of individuals with SMI are protected while addressing their end-of-life needs and wishes. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onderwerp van mediese bystand in die dood (MAiD) vir individue met ernstige geestesongesteldheid (SMI) as hul enigste mediese diagnose het die afgelope paar jaar toenemende aandag getrek, wat komplekse etiese en kliniese oorwegings laat ontstaan. Hierdie groeiende belangstelling spruit uit die erkenning dat individue met SMI diepgaande lyding en 'n begeerte na lewens-einde-opsies kan ervaar, terwyl hulle ook die unieke uitdagings wat geestesgesondheids toestande in die konteks van MAiD stel, erken. Die etiese dimensies van hierdie kwessie sluit verskeie aspekte in, insluitend respek vir pasiënt outonomie, die assessering van besluitnemings kapasiteit by individue met SMI, die aard van ondraaglike lyding in geestesongesteldheid, en die bevordering van waardigheid in lewens-einde-sorg. Sentraal tot die debat is kommer oor diagnostiese en prognostiese onsekerhede in geestesgesondheid, die potensiaal vir behandeling weiering, en die invloed van eksterne faktore op versoeke vir MAiD. Die rol van psigiaters in lewens-einde-sorg vir individue met SMI is ook 'n kritieke oorweging, asook die belangrikheid van vooraf sorg beplanning en palliatiewe sorg opsies. Daarbenewens is die daarstelling van robuuste verslagdoenings vereistes noodsaaklik om deursigtigheid en aanspreeklikheid in die verskaffing van MAiD vir individue met SMI te verseker. Soos hierdie komplekse kwessie voortgaan om te ontwikkel, is aanbevelings vir beste praktyke en etiese riglyne nodig om die uitdagings te navigeer en te verseker dat die regte en welstand van individue met SMI beskerm word terwyl hulle hul lewens-einde behoeftes en wense aanspreek. Masters 2025-06-11T12:18:39Z 2025-06-11T12:18:39Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132597 Stellenbosch University 78 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Assisted suicide -- Moral and ethical aspects Mentally ill -- Care Psychiatric ethics Right to die -- Moral and ethical aspects UCTD Kotze, Carla Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| title | Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| title_full | Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| title_fullStr | Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| title_short | Examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| title_sort | examining the ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying for individuals with serious mental illness |
| topic | Assisted suicide -- Moral and ethical aspects Mentally ill -- Care Psychiatric ethics Right to die -- Moral and ethical aspects UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132597 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kotzecarla examiningtheethicalcomplexitiesofmedicalassistanceindyingforindividualswithseriousmentalillness |