Photo Credit: iStock.com/Jacob Wackerhausen

Swedish doctors navigated ethical uncertainty yet largely endorsed aiding assisted dying abroad through medical certification to support patient autonomy. 

A research study published in June 2025 issue of Frontiers in Psychiatry explored the ethical and professional uncertainties faced by Swedish physicians due to the lack of clear guidelines for supporting patients requesting medical certificates. 

Researchers examined how physicians reasoned and formed opinions when responding to requests for assisted dying (AD) or facilitating AD in Switzerland. 

They carried out 12 semi-structured interviews with physicians from various specialties (oncology, neurology, palliative care, psychiatry, general practice, internal medicine), transcribed the sessions, and performed thematic analysis. 

The results showed that participants emphasized understanding patients’ motives for AD, including fears, care improvement, and existential concerns; many supported issuing certificates to facilitate AD, while most opposed performing AD in Sweden, with some expressing cautious openness despite concerns about barriers. 

Investigators concluded that although many participants were skeptical about AD and its legalization in Sweden and still supported issuing medical certificates to facilitate AD in Switzerland, aiming to address patients’ underlying concerns. 

Source: frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1580657/full