INTEREST IN PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE AMONG AMBULATORY HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

This study surveyed HIV-injected patients' attitudes toward physician- assisted suicide and examined the relationship between interest in phy sician-assisted suicide and physical and psychosocial variables. Metho d: Three hundred seventy-eight ambulatory HIV-infected patients, 90% o f whom met the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control for AIDS, w ere recruited from several sites in New York City. Self-report measure s were used to assess pain, physical symptoms, psychological distress, depression, and social supports. Attitudes toward, and interest in, p hysician-assisted suicide were assessed through responses to a questio nnaire. Result's: Sixty-three percent of the patients supported polici es favoring physician-assisted suicide, and 55% acknowledged consideri ng physician-assisted suicide as an option for themselves. The stronge st predictors of interest in physician-assisted suicide were high scor es on measures of psychological distress (depression, hopelessness, su icidal ideation, overall psychological distress) and experience with t erminal illness in a family member or friend. Other strong predictors were Caucasian race, infrequent or no attendance at religious services , and perceived low level of social supports. Interest in physician-as sisted suicide was not related to severity of pain, pain-related funct ional impairment, physical symptoms, or extent of HIV disease. Conclus ions: HIV-infected patients supported policies favoring physician-assi sted suicide at rates comparable to those in the general public. Patie nts' interest in physician-assisted suicide appeared to be more a Junc tion of psychological distress and social factors than physical factor s. These findings highlight the importance of psychiatric and psychoso cial assessment and intervention in the cave of patients who express i nterest in or request physician-assisted suicide.