Circumstances affecting patients' euthanasia or medically assisted suicide decisions from the perspectives of patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals: A qualitative systematic review

This study aims to explore circumstances affecting patients' euthanasia and medically assisted suicide (MAS) decisions from the perspectives of patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals. A qualitative systematic review was performed following PRISMA recommendations. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022303034). Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, Eric, PsycInfo, and citation pearl search in Scopus from 2012 to 2022. In total, 6840 publications were initially retrieved. The analysis included a descriptive numerical summary analysis and a qualitative thematic analysis of 27 publications, resulting in two main themes-Contexts and factors influencing actions and interactions, and Finding support while dealing with resistance in euthanasia and MAS decisions-and related sub-themes. The results illuminated the dynamics in (inter)actions between patients and involved parties that might both impede and facilitate patients' decisions related to euthanasia/MAS, potentially influencing patients' decision-making experiences, and the roles and experiences of involved parties.