Assisted dying: reflections on the psychological process.

Abstract

This paper explores the question of assisted dying from both a legal and psychological perspective within the legal parameters in place at the time of writing of this paper. Links are made between Kohut's notion of an acceptance of the finiteness of existence and of transience as one of several indicators of the maturation and transformation of archaic narcissism, and Jung's notion of the readiness and ability to 'die with life' as the goal of the second half of life. The author raises awareness of the importance of the need for clarity with regard to these issues on the part of therapists who may be required to provide an evaluation of a patient's admissibility to a service of assisted dying.