{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T09:59:21Z","timestamp":1790675961951,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790640000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790640000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012965","name":"Mount Royal University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["101677"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["101677"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012965","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012965","name":"Mount Royal University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["102316"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["102316"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012965","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Nursing Open"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To explore the experiences of family members when a relative or close person receives medical assistance in dying.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Guided by Interpretive Description methodology, this qualitative study was conducted across two settings. Participants included bereaved family members of individuals who received clinician\u2010assisted medical assistance in dying when natural death was reasonably foreseeable and key informants connected to medical assistance in dying, palliative care and end\u2010of\u2010life organizations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data were collected between June 2020 and February 2021 through demographic surveys, in\u2010depth interviews, documents and artifacts, field notes and analytic memos. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently and iteratively, supporting the development of practice\u2010relevant interpretations of family members' experiences.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Forty\u2010six participants, including 31 bereaved family members and 15 key informants, participated. Three interpretive themes characterized family members' experiences: (a) \u2018They want medical assistance in dying, now what?\u2019, (b) \u2018Prepared but maybe not ready\u2019 and (c) \u2018An evolving understanding about this type of death\u2019. Family members described navigating healthcare processes, assuming practical and emotional responsibilities, and negotiating their own beliefs while supporting the individual's decision. They also described meaningful opportunities for connection and farewell alongside uncertainty, moral strain and emotional upheaval. Supporting a relative's decision to pursue medical assistance in dying did not necessarily correspond to emotional preparedness for the death or subsequent bereavement.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Medical assistance in dying is experienced not only as an individual decision but also as a relational process with emotional, practical and moral implications for family members. A family\u2010in\u2010focus approach may complement person\u2010centred care by increasing the visibility of family members throughout the MAiD trajectory. Proactive communication, recognition of emotional complexity, and access to psychosocial and bereavement support may better address the needs of family members while maintaining the autonomy of the individual accessing an assisted death.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Patient or Public Contribution<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>No Patient or Public Contribution.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/nop2.70843","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T09:16:18Z","timestamp":1790673378000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Supporting a Different Type of Death: Experiences of Family Members of Recipients of Medical Assistance in Dying"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-0016-3042","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tracy L.","family":"Powell","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing and Midwifery Mount Royal University  Calgary Alberta Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2381-4712","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kelli","family":"Stajduhar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing The University of Victoria  Victoria British Columbia Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Prince","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Professor Emeritus The University of Victoria  Victoria British Columbia Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1156-9425","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sally","family":"Thorne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing The University of British Columbia  Vancouver British Columbia Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_14_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Arnup K.2018.\u201cFamily Perspectives: Death and Dying in Canada.\u201dhttp:\/\/vanierinstitute.ca\/deathdying2018\/.","DOI":"10.61959\/PRXZ1798E"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_3_1","first-page":"45","volume-title":"Approaches to Ethics: Nursing Beyond Boundaries","author":"Austin W.","year":"2003"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/jpm.2014.0320"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_5_1","volume-title":"Relational Ethics: The Full Meaning of Respect","author":"Bergum V.","year":"2005"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/07481187.2021.1876790"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0825859720951661"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_8_1","unstructured":"Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers. n.d.\u201cPalliative Care & MAiD.\u201dhttps:\/\/camapcanada.ca\/clinicians\/clinician\u2010resources\/pallative\u2010care\u2010maid\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12910\u201000950\u20109"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.9778\/cmajo.20220140"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0030228241237834"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjspcare\u20102020\u2010002648"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2017.12.482"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S147895151900004X"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/08258597251348262"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/jpm.2020.0654"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_17_1","unstructured":"Health Canada.2024.\u201cFifth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada 2023.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health\u2010canada\/services\/publications\/health\u2010system\u2010services\/annual\u2010report\u2010medical\u2010assistance\u2010dying\u20102023.pdf."},{"issue":"9","key":"e_1_2_14_18_1","first-page":"e387","article-title":"Exploring the Experience of Supporting a Loved One Through a Medically Assisted Death in Canada","volume":"64","author":"Holmes S.","year":"2018","journal-title":"Canadian Family Physician"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732318761366"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_20_1","first-page":"23","volume-title":"Critical Issues in Qualitative Research Methods","author":"Morse J. M.","year":"1994"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_21_1","unstructured":"National Alliance for Caregiving.2009.\u201cThe Economic Downturn and Its Impact on Family Caregiving.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.caregiving.org\/wp\u2010content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/EVC_Caregivers_Economy_Report\u2010FINAL_4\u201028\u201009.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_22_1","volume-title":"Legislative Summary of Bill C\u20107: An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Medical Assistance in Dying) (Publication No. 43\u20102\u2010C7\u2010E)","author":"Nicol J.","year":"2021"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010021\u201000882\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_24_1","volume-title":"Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods","author":"Patton M. 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