INFORMAL CAREGIVERS AND THE INTENTION TO HASTEN AIDS-RELATED DEATH

Objectives: To determine the extent to which homosexual men dying of t he acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) receive medication intend ed to hasten death. To assess the impact on caregivers of administerin g medications intended to hasten death. Methods: In a prospective stud y of caregiving partners of men with AIDS (n = 140), characteristics o f the ill partner, the caregiver, and the relationship were assessed a t baseline and 1 month before the ill partner's death. Three months af ter the death, caregivers were asked if they had increased their partn er's narcotic and/or sedative-hypnotic medication dose and if so, what had been the objective of the increase, and their comfort with their medication decisions. Results: Of 140 ill partners who died of AIDS, 1 7 (12.1%) received an increase in the use of medications immediately b efore death intended to hasten death. Diagnoses and care needs of ill partners who received increases in the use of medications to hasten de ath did not differ from those of ill partners receiving medication for symptoms. Fourteen increases (10%) in use of medications were adminis tered by caregivers. These caregivers did not differ from those admini stering medication for symptom control in level of distress, caregivin g burden, relationship characteristics, or comfort with the medication decision, but they reported more social support and positive meaning in caregiving. Conclusion: The decision to hasten death is not a rare event in this group of men. There is no evidence that it is the result of caregiver distress, poor relationship quality, or intolerable care giving burden; and it does not cause excessive discomfort in the survi ving partner. This study, although small, has implications for the pol icy debate on assisted suicide.