Le suicide assisté en Suisse sous l’angle de la déprise

Profitant d’un contexte legislatif particulier, deux des huit Associations pour le Droit de Mourir dans la Dignite (ADMD) de Suisse ont elabore des protocoles d’assistance au suicide pour les personnes souffrant de « polypathologies invalidantes liees a l’age ». Elles proposent a leurs membres ages d’envisager le suicide comme une option raisonnable, permettant d’eviter des processus de reamenagement induits par des circonstances difficiles, comme la perte d’une certaine integrite physique ou mentale, la baisse de performance physique, la dependance, voire d’y mettre fin. Apres avoir explique comment une ADMD a elabore au fil du temps un dispositif de fin de vie, utilise surtout par des personnes agees, acceptable legalement et socialement, on montrera a travers un cas emblematique, comment un processus de deprise s’articule a un projet de suicide, qui pourrait aboutir a une demande d’assistance. Plus largement, cet article s’interroge sur la construction possible d’un ordre negocie ou la mort peut devenir un sort enviable pour les ages et le suicide un projet personnel et parfois meme familial, permettant de preserver son identite. Paolantonio : In many countries, life expectancy has increased considerably in past years, and the importance of finding ways to ensure good levels of wellbeing through aging has become more important than ever. Arts based interventions are promising in this respect, and the literature suggests that musical activities can reduce isolation and anxiety and foster feelings of achievement and self-confidence. The present study examined the effects of group music making programs on the health and wellbeing of nursing home residents in Southern Switzerland. A team of professional and student musicians delivered 10 weekly music sessions in four nursing homes, focusing on singing, rhythm-based activities with percussion instruments, and listening to short, live performances. 22 participants (16 women and 6 men, aged 72-95 years, mean 83.6, SD ± 6.9) were recruited to take part in the study and were interviewed after the last music session. The data were analyzed with thematic analysis to investigate how residents experienced group music making and its effects. The findings show that the music programs were beneficial for residents’ wellbeing. Music plays an important role in their lives, both in their pasts and presently, and being involved in musical activities offers engagement and novelty in daily life, providing learning opportunities and facilitating interpersonal relationships. Moreover, these results were due to interactions with the musicians involved. Residents particularly appreciated the opportunity to listen to live performances as part of the sessions. This study suggests that nursing home residents value music and that music based interventions play an important and direct role in enhancing their wellbeing.