Currently accepted at: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Oct 29, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Oct 29, 2025 - Dec 24, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 13, 2026
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
This paper has been accepted and is currently in production.
It will appear shortly on 10.2196/86740
The final accepted version (not copyedited yet) is in this tab.
Evaluating experiences of the newly enacted law on assisted suicide in Austria: protocol for an interdisciplinary mixed methods study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Austria has only recently established a legal framework for assisted dying. Individuals seeking assistance in suicide must navigate a multi-stage process that has been criticised for its complexity, both for the individuals seeking assistance as well as the healthcare and legal professionals involved in the procedure.
Objective:
In order to address the critical gap in empirical research that sheds light onto the law’s implementation, we have designed a multi-perspective evaluation that examines the various perspectives of individuals seeking assisted suicide, their family members and other relatives, as well as of all professions specified in the legal framework – notably physicians, notaries and other relevant legal professionals, pharmacists, and psychologists.
Methods:
Our study employs an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theories, concepts, and methodologies from legal science, ethics and social science. Within the latter, we aim to provide a comprehensive account of stakeholder experiences through a series of semi-structured interviews and two online questionnaire surveys.
Results:
The initial research proposal received approval from the University of Vienna Ethics Committee in November 2023. The legal and ethical analyses are ongoing, with several key legal and ethical barriers already identified. Recruitment for interview participants began in January 2024. As of October 2025, the majority of interviews across all stakeholder groups have been conducted and transcribed. Given the novelty of the legislation and the limited practical experience to date, further interviews are scheduled until the end of 2025. Data collection for both questionnaire surveys took place from June until September 2024 with data analysis completed in May 2025.
Conclusions:
Our multi-perspective evaluation aims to assess the framework on assisted suicide in Austria. By evaluating the perspectives of relevant key stakeholders, we aim to provide a nuanced understanding of the law’s societal, legal, and ethical implications.
Citation
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Copyright
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