Year: 2002 Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, v.24, no.3, (September 2002), p.312-317 SIEC No: 20040051

The authors surveyed 50 caregivers of decedent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients from Oregon & Washington regarding perceptions of patients’ interest in assisted suicide & their physical & emotional state in the last month of life. According to the respondents, one-third of ALS patients discussed wanting assisted suicide in the last month of life, & had greater distress at being a burden to others & more insomnia, pain, & discomfort than those who were not interested in assisted suicide. (20 refs)