We're building a better ClinicalTrials.gov. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Try the New Site
We're building a modernized ClinicalTrials.gov! Visit Beta.ClinicalTrials.gov to try the new functionality.
Working…
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

Assisted Suicide in Switzerland

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04261088
Recruitment Status : Active, not recruiting
First Posted : February 7, 2020
Last Update Posted : March 21, 2023
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

Tracking Information
First Submitted Date February 6, 2020
First Posted Date February 7, 2020
Last Update Posted Date March 21, 2023
Actual Study Start Date February 3, 2020
Estimated Primary Completion Date January 31, 2024   (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Current Primary Outcome Measures
 (submitted: February 6, 2020)		 Descriptive study [ Time Frame: Ongoing ]
This is a qualitative descriptive study of transcripts.
Original Primary Outcome Measures Same as current
Change History
Current Secondary Outcome Measures Not Provided
Original Secondary Outcome Measures Not Provided
Current Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures Not Provided
Original Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures Not Provided
 
Descriptive Information
Brief Title Assisted Suicide in Switzerland
Official Title Assisted Suicide in Switzerland
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.
Detailed Description

Switzerland is the only country in the world that enables assisted suicide by lay people, i.e.,

people who are not physicians. All other countries that have adopted aid-in-dying legislation

require that a physician provides this assistance. This project probes the reasons for adopting this policy, and the advantages and the disadvantages of the Swiss model at the end of life. Are the Swiss aid-in-dying volunteers able to provide well-informed assistance to patients in need? Is the Swiss model one to be followed by other nations? The project will focus on the work of the Swiss aid-in-dying societies. The study draws on research in the fields of ethics, law and medicine. Its novelty lies in incorporating different methods of analysis, reflecting on the right to die with dignity within a liberal framework that aims to respect fundamental human rights.
Study Type Observational
Study Design Observational Model: Case-Only
Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional
Target Follow-Up Duration Not Provided
Biospecimen Not Provided
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
Condition Assisted Suicide
Intervention Not Provided
Study Groups/Cohorts Experts in Swiss assisted suicide
Persons in Switzerland who are experts in how assisted suicide is practiced. We will beexamining already collected interviews.
Publications * Not Provided

*   Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
 
Recruitment Information
Recruitment Status Active, not recruiting
Actual Enrollment
 (submitted: February 6, 2020)		 25
Original Actual Enrollment Same as current
Estimated Study Completion Date January 31, 2024
Estimated Primary Completion Date January 31, 2024   (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Eligibility Criteria
  • INCLUSION/EXCLUSION:

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.
Sex/Gender
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Ages 18 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
Accepts Healthy Volunteers No
Contacts Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
Listed Location Countries United States
Removed Location Countries  
 
Administrative Information
NCT Number NCT04261088
Other Study ID Numbers 999920059
20-CC-N059
Has Data Monitoring Committee Not Provided
U.S. FDA-regulated Product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
IPD Sharing Statement Not Provided
Current Responsible Party National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Original Responsible Party Same as current
Current Study Sponsor National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Original Study Sponsor Same as current
Collaborators Not Provided
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Scott Y Kim, M.D. National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
PRS Account National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Verification Date August 19, 2022