Authors:
Manon Guay, OT, PhD, is Associate Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; Manon.Guay@USherbrooke.ca
Marie-Jose´e Drolet, OT, PhD, is Full Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Université du Québec _a Trois-Rivi_eres, Trois-Rivi_eres, Quebec, Canada.
Nicolas Kühne, OT, PhD, is Full Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Claudia Talbot-Coulombe, OT, MSc, is Research Assistant, Research Center on Aging, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
W. Ben Mortenson, OT, PhD, is Associate Professor, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
CE Credit: .1 CEU (1 credit hour/1.25 PDU)
Abstract:
In some legal and societal circumstances, people freely and capably plan, organize, and precipitate their own death. Drawing on published literature, we critically reflect on how deliberately ending one’s own life fits with the current definitions of the concept of occupation. Using an occupational science and occupational therapy theoretical reflection, we argue that deliberately dying can for some people be considered a purposeful and meaningful occupation. Implications for such an occupational therapy practice are discussed: attending to the occupational needs of specific groups of people, reconsidering definitions and conceptual work, advocating for occupational justice in ending life activities, reflecting on ethical conundrums around self-harm activities within the scope of practice, and exploring deliberate death as a purposeful and meaningful occupation. Because deliberately dying is something that some people do, in this article we aim to open a dialogue within the field of occupational science and occupational therapy about this sensitive and potentially controversial issue.
Manon Guay, Marie-Josée Drolet, Nicolas Kühne, Claudia Talbot-Coulombe, W. Ben Mortenson; What If Deliberately Dying Is an Occupation?. Am J Occup Ther July/August 2022, Vol. 76(4), 7604347040. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.047357
Read More