As part of my postdoctoral fellowship, I lead a research project called Perspectives and Theoretical Analyses of Suffering in the Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Dying context (PATHOS).

The PATHOS project aims to better understand the meaning of suffering in the context of a request for Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in The Netherlands. I am using a multiperspective approach, bringing together the perspectives of patients, close ones, and healthcare professionals via qualitative interviews.

The PATHOS project is hosted by the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The supervisor of this project is Dr. Els van Wijngaarden.

The PATHOS project has been funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Société et Culture (FRQSC), Stichting de Zaaier, and the Hypatia Grant.

Resulting Publications

Oral Presentations

  1. Girard, D., Tuinema, M., Dargis, L., van Wijngaarden, E. (2023, May). Mieux comprendre l’expérience de la souffrance en contexte d’aide médicale à mourir : une méta-synthèse alliant la perspective des patient·es, de leurs proches et des professionnel·les de la santé. Conférence scientifique mensuelle du RQSPAL et du CRISE. Montreal, Canada.

  2. Symposium : Girard. D., Lavoie, D., Vin, E. (2022, September). La Souffrance en contexte d’aide médicale à mourir. Le 1er colloque interdisciplinaire sur la douleur et la souffrance. Montreal, Canada.

  3. Girard, D., Stolk, M., van Wijngaarden, E. (2022, June). Unraveling the meaning of suffering in the context of euthanasia and assisted suicide: a systematic review. The 39th Annual International Human Science Research Conference. New York, United States.

  4. Girard, D., Tuinema, M., Dargis, L., van Wijngaarden, E. (2023, January). Unraveling the Meaning of Suffering in the Context of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Science Café for healthcare professionals and researchers at the Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine. Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.