Exploring Volunteers' Perspectives on Medically Assisted Dying: A Qualitative Study

Medically Assisted Dying, as defined within the Italian legal framework following Law 219/2017 and ruling no. 242/2019, remains a highly debated issue, raising ethical, legal, social and psychological questions. To date, little research has examined the perspectives of palliative care volunteers on this practice despite their close involvement in patients’ suffering and end-of-life care. The present thesis aims particularly to explore volunteers’ understanding and interpretation of medically assisted dying and their representations of death within the broader context of palliative care. This thesis comprises a theoretical analysis addressing the topic from legal and psychological perspectives, and a qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews. Such knowledge intends to inform future research and foster a better understanding of the theme.