Assisted dying and public health

This chapter deals with the public health perspective on assisted dying, an umbrella term for euthanasia and (physician-)assisted suicide, i.e., death on explicit patient request, which is legal in a growing number of countries. After explaining the societal and cultural background and providing conceptual clarification, the chapter discusses the three major functions of a public health approach to assisted dying: (1) monitoring its epidemiology; (2) monitoring practice implementation and adherence to (legal) due care criteria, and (3) evaluating multi-level impacts and policy developments. The conclusion delineates how research and monitoring can be focused moving forward.
Keywords: Assisted dying; Dying with dignity; Euthanasia; Medical aid in dying; Medical assistance in dying; Physician-assisted death; Physician-assisted dying; Physician-assisted suicide; Voluntary assisted dying