The desire to die in palliative care: Gestalt therapy approach

This paper examines suicidal tendencies in palliative care and how they are addressed in Gestalt therapy. Is the approach to a terminally ill person's wish to die different from that taken with a person who is not terminally ill? A practical example illustrates how collaboration between different professions can be successful, whilst simultaneously raising ethical and legal questions for those involved. To what extent do professionals working with terminally ill people encounter the issue of suicidal ideation? What role does this issue play for care providers, and how do they approach working with this group of people? The perspectives of the psychotherapeutic professions on suicidal ideation are contrasted with legal opinions, reflections and statements from the palliative care movement, and sources from the field of ethics. Finally, the findings of this study are summarised and conclusions are drawn.