Mirjam Mezger

Dr. Mirjam Mezger PhD is a researcher at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), School of Health Sciences, Institute of Nursing, specializing in Qualitative Social Research, Nursing Ethics, and Religiosity/Spirituality in Palliative Care. Her work explores topics like Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED), End of Life Teaching, and Research Ethics.

• Current Role: Researcher at ZHAW since 2018
• Previous Roles: Project Team Member at University of Zurich (2012–2017), Project Manager at Stiftung Dialog Ethik (2016–2018)

Research Interests:

• Qualitative methods in nursing ethics and end-of-life care
• Spirituality and religious practices in Swiss healthcare
• Ethical frameworks for VSED and patient autonomy

Publication Trends: Recent work focuses on moral injury in mental health nursing, VSED protocols, family dynamics in childhood cancer survivorship, and spirituality in patient care, often applying mixed-methods approaches in Swiss contexts.

Projects:

• Lead: Ongoing Caring for Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases in Switzerland
• Team Member: Completed CHANCE project on childhood cancer family challenges

Professional Affiliations: Member of Swiss Sociological Association and Researchgroup Religion and Medicine.