Descriptive themes and illustrative quotes
| Descriptive theme | Illustrative quotes | Country/reference | |
| Strong, internalised and polarised emotional theme | Positive emotions | ‘I think when you see the patients that we see, it’s very clear that you’re doing an incredible service. And that’s wonderful. There isn’t a single moment when I see these patients that I don’t think, “Oh my God, I’m so happy to be here to help you.” So that’s tremendously reinforcing…’ | Canada/Shaw et al32, p e397 |
| Negative emotions | ‘It was terribly creepy, I never went anywhere with as much lead in my shoes as that morning when I took my bag with the medication in it.’ (T, male) | Netherlands/van Marwijk et al27, p 611 | |
| Moral distress | ‘There is just a standard that I have. I could not live with myself if I knew that I broke one of the Ten Commandments. I don’t feel that I have the right to do that. I will say that there have been times when I would have liked to do that… And there have been times when I’ve thought about it, and maybe I got right up to the edge. But I wouldn’t—I couldn’t go over the line…’ | USA/Schwarz55, p 229 | |
| Reflective emotional theme | ‘I shy away from saying suicide or euthanasia. The act of it, however we name it, calls for the most profound respect as the consequence is that a heart stop beating, lungs stop breathing, forever. I am working and sense making as I go along, being sure that I keep breathing.’ | Canada/Beuthin41, p 1684 | |
| Professional value-driven emotional theme | ‘Patients have the right to make as many decisions as they are able to make for themselves, and we respect those even though they may not be the same decisions that we might make … and we will advocate for the patients … to get them whatever they want … I believe in self-determination, but I think it’s (PAS) a sad commentary on our society.’ (Social worker) | USA/Norton47, p.58 | |
HCP, healthcare provider; MAiD, medical assistance in dying.