Running Head: SPOUSAL SELF-EUTHANASIA IN AN ELDERLY COUPLE 1

Spousal Self-euthanasia in an Elderly Couple

Bryttni Pugh

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

SPOUSAL SELF-EUTHANASIA IN AN ELDERLY COUPLE 2

Spousal Self-euthanasia in an Elderly Couple

Van Wijngaarden, Leget, and Goossensen state that they decided upon the research

topic of spousal self-euthanasia due to there being a lack of first-hand or insider experiences

documented (2016). Previous research uses documents from outsiders including files and/or

interviews from the police, coroner, friends, and family as well as notes left behind from the

couple who chose simultaneous death. This simultaneous death is preferred to be known as

spousal self-euthanasia but also known as a suicide pact, double suicide, and double self-

euthanasia. The couples who participate in this act are generally romantically attached, older,

married, afraid of separation and deterioration of the brain and body, ill, in a high social class,

isolated, and take this option with careful consideration. The elderly Dutch couple, Peter and

Suzan, who participated in this particular study were interviewed for three hours (1.5 hours with

the husband and 1.5 hours with the wife) through a phenomenological approach to see the

degree to which these characteristics are true. Additionally, the researchers analyzed the eight

existential lifeworld dimensions for the couple to give further insight into their personal

experiences and motivational factors with their choice of spousal self-euthanasia. Self and

project, embodiment, temporality, and sociality were the most prominent dimensions. Although

they both had a wish to end life, the wife did not seem to be as afraid of the future or as in a

rush as her husband. They eventually committed suicide together or spousal self-euthanasia by

lethal dose of medication as they ultimately felt that life was not worth living anymore and that

their life was complete.

Strengths include researching a new perspective the perspectives of the ones who

eventually ended their lives and using lifeworld dimensions to analyze subjective experiences.

The main limitation includes focusing on only one couple as a case study because this couple

has a personalized and unique experience. They did not suffer from a life-threatening disease or

severe depression, and they did not seek out any mental health therapies (Van Wijngaarden, E.

J., Leget, C. J. W., & Goossensen, M. A., 2016). A solution to this problem would be to interview
SPOUSAL SELF-EUTHANASIA IN AN ELDERLY COUPLE 3

more couples that have a strong desire to commit spousal self-euthanasia and will eventually

do so to discover any possible general patterns with varying individuals.

Method

Participants

This research will recruit 12 couples who have a plan and strong desire to end their lives

by spousal self-euthanasia. Six of the couples should not have severe or major depression and

six of the couples should have a diagnosis of severe or major depression. They will be recruited

via advertisements in the paper and social media. Participation will be voluntary.

Procedure

First, the participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to

indicate whether their wish to die was driven by severe depression (Van Wijngaarden, E. J.,

Leget, C. J. W., & Goossensen, M. A., 2016). Each couple should be considered elders in older

and late adulthood or past 65 years of age. Then, each participant 24 total will be

interviewed separately for 1.5 hours and later interviewed as couple for 1.5 hours each. The

interview should have guiding questions such as Can you describe what it means to have a

strong desire to die together? and allow the participants to openly discuss their thoughts and

experiences in depth (Van Wijngaarden, E. J., Leget, C. J. W., & Goossensen, M. A., 2016).

The interviews should be recorded to note their exact words. Observational notes should also

be taken to note their non-verbal movements and actions. After the interviews are completed,

the researchers will discuss as a group the prominent dimensions of each person and each

group. They may need to replay the recordings.

Results

I would expect to find the dimensions of mood-as-atmosphere and project as key

differences between the couples with and the couples without major depression because the

situation would affect the state of mind and their ability to carry out meaningful activities
SPOUSAL SELF-EUTHANASIA IN AN ELDERLY COUPLE 4

differently for both. Also, I would expect to find that all 12 couples would have a strong desire to

die due to a loss of independence and strong dependence on their spouses.

Discussion

Older and late adults have many declines in their biological and social clocks (Bjorklund,

B. R., 2015). Their senses will experience loss, their cognition will decline, and they will have

small social networks. Their convoy model and social networks will have shrunk due to

becoming closer with their spouse and losing many family members and friends. They will also

focus on emotionally meaningful goals, according to the socioemotional selectivity theory, which

corresponds to the way these twelve couples go about planning and executing the rest of their

lives or future plans. Due to the losses they know they will have to endure, they want to avoid

them as much as they can, which, in their cases, is by spousal self-euthanasia. Additionally, the

couples will be focusing on their emotional goals by spending time and ending their lives with

their spouses and feeling good about their decision as well as their overall life satisfaction.
SPOUSAL SELF-EUTHANASIA IN AN ELDERLY COUPLE 5

References

Bjorklund, B. R. (2015). The journey of adulthood.

Van Wijngaarden, E. J., Leget, C. J. W., & Goossensen, M. A. (2016). Till death do us part: The

lived experience of an elderly couple who chose to end their lives by spousal self-

euthanasia. The Gerontologist, 56, 6, 1062-1071. doi:10.1093/geront/gnv060