Does Information, Psychiatric Illness Type and/or Age Influence Undergraduates’ Acceptance of MAiD?

Abstract

In 2023, Canadians whose only medical condition is an untreatable mental illness and who otherwise meet all eligibility criteria will be eligible for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). This study will investigate the general attitudes and beliefs of undergraduates towards widening the scope of MAiD to include untreatable mental illness. Participants will be randomly assigned to an information/no information condition about MAiD for untreatable mental illness. Four scenarios will then be presented in which age and illness type are manipulated. We predict that stigmatizing beliefs about certain mental illnesses as well as the age of the individual in the scenarios will influence acceptability of MAiD for mental illness. We further hypothesize that having more information about MAiD for mental illness will influence participants’ acceptance of MAiD.

Keywords: Medical Assistance in Dying, End of Life, Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, Mental Illness, Personality

Department: Psychology

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Lori Harper and Dr. Russ Powell