NCJ Number
226652
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: January-March 2009 Pages: 70-81
Date Published
March 2009
Length
12 pages
Annotation
To address psychologists’ objectivity in cases of assisted suicide, this commentary begins with a review of the ways in which mental health professionals are currently involved in assisted suicide, explores recent suggestions and guidelines for psychologists’ involvement, considers how such guidelines have underemphasized the potential impact of psychodynamic factors on the psychologist-patient interaction, and offers suggestions for ways to begin to address these challenges.
Abstract
Current evaluation guidelines and training recommendations only begin to address psychologists’ objectivity in cases of assisted suicide. As a result, it is argued that psychologists should not be involved with these cases until there is a more concerted effort to ensure that these practitioners are adequately equipped to handle the intrapsychic and relational components with is unique clinical situation. Training and oversight of these psychologists must emphasize the potential impact of these factors on their objectivity. This argument is based on what is believed to be an essential component of psychologists’ involvement that has received far less attention and consideration. If psychologists intend to be involved in cases of assisted suicide, the individual practitioners and the field as a whole must address all challenges to the objectivity that may arise in this unique clinical situation. Recent literature has emphasized the important role psychologists can play in evaluating patients’ competency and decisionmaking processes in cases of assisted suicide. It is often assumed that psychologists will be objective when conducting evaluations. However, providing service to patients who are seeking an assisted suicide may give rise to a number of relational and intrapsychic issues that could influence the evaluation process and its outcomes. References