Assisted Suicide in Switzerland

NCT04261088 | Active Not Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 99992005920-CC-N059
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Researchers want to learn more about how the Swiss model of assisted suicide works. To do this, they have interviewed 25 Swiss experts. The researchers will draw on research in the fields of ethics, law, and medicine to analyze the transcripts. Objective: To describe the practice of assisted suicide in Switzerland and to study how the policy is carried out, how the right-to-die societies work, and the ethical implications of the practice. Eligibility: Swiss experts in the field of assisted suicide Design: The study includes 25 interviews that have already been conducted. The participants were:

• academics
• doctors and others in medical care
• a government official
• representatives of right-to-die societies. Researchers will analyze the data using qualitative methods. Two researchers will develop a coding scheme and code the texts and analyze the data.

Conditions

Assisted Suicide

Keywords

Ethics; Switzerland; End of life; Assisted Death; Natural History

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Descriptive study

  This is a qualitative descriptive study of transcripts.

  Ongoing

Study Arms (1)

Experts in Swiss assisted suicide

Persons in Switzerland who are experts in how assisted suicide is practiced. We will beexamining already collected interviews.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

25 transcripts of interviews with: Academics 14, Physicians and other medical care 6, Right to die associations 4, Government official 1

You may not qualify if:

• The study includes 25 interviews with Swiss experts that have been conducted.
• Gender: Men 14, Women 11
• Backgrounds of interviewees: Academics 14, Physicians and other medical care 6, Right to die associations 4, Government official 1
• Race and ethnicity: All white Swiss.
• Age range: Unknown, but all are adults.
• No vulnerable populations.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide, Assisted; Death

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Scott Y Kim, M.D.

  National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2020
• First Posted: February 7, 2020
• Study Start: February 3, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Last Updated: April 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12-02

Locations

US (1)