Euthanasia
Involvement of Nurses In Euthanasia
Nurses have a responsibility to examine how they feel about euthanasia, about the processes available today for extending life, and whether their patients have a right to choose their own fate. Although nurses worldwide are confronted with euthanasia requests from patients under their care, rarely are their opinions considered in the decision making process. “To develop clear guidelines on the role of nurses in euthanasia, it is essential to consider fully the viewpoint of nurses, given their daily interactions with dying patients and their expertise in caring for them” (Verpoort & Gastmans, 2006, p. 188) Nurses are involved in various phases of the euthanasia process such as viewing the request for euthanasia, managing decision making, discharging out euthanasia, and the aftercare for the patient’s family. Nurses have a professional responsibility to stay reliably informed about the ethical, legal, cultural and clinical implications of euthanasia.
Ethical Implications of Euthanasia
Nurses have obligation to provide care to patient and the family.. There are several factors when we consider it as ethical issue .Patient Autonomy or Self-determinism pays respect to an individual's personal values and enables the individual to be responsible for his or her own life. Patient autonomy automatically includes the right to full information concerning the nature and development of the terminal illness, the choices for treatment that remain, the anticipated consequences of each form of treatment, and what will occur if the patient refuses treatment. The argument for legalizing euthanasia is that the individual's freedom entails liberty or choice in all matters as long as the rights of any other person are not infringed upon. The argument against legalizing euthanasia is that it will lead to disrespect for human life. Euthanasia can then be abused for criminal purposes. A financial motive is sometimes advanced in favor of euthanasia.
Nurses have a responsibility to examine how they feel about euthanasia, about the processes available today for extending life, and whether their patients have a right to choose their own fate. Although nurses worldwide are confronted with euthanasia requests from patients under their care, rarely are their opinions considered in the decision making process. “To develop clear guidelines on the role of nurses in euthanasia, it is essential to consider fully the viewpoint of nurses, given their daily interactions with dying patients and their expertise in caring for them” (Verpoort & Gastmans, 2006, p. 188) Nurses are involved in various phases of the euthanasia process such as viewing the request for euthanasia, managing decision making, discharging out euthanasia, and the aftercare for the patient’s family. Nurses have a professional responsibility to stay reliably informed about the ethical, legal, cultural and clinical implications of euthanasia.
Ethical Implications of Euthanasia
Nurses have obligation to provide care to patient and the family.. There are several factors when we consider it as ethical issue .Patient Autonomy or Self-determinism pays respect to an individual's personal values and enables the individual to be responsible for his or her own life. Patient autonomy automatically includes the right to full information concerning the nature and development of the terminal illness, the choices for treatment that remain, the anticipated consequences of each form of treatment, and what will occur if the patient refuses treatment. The argument for legalizing euthanasia is that the individual's freedom entails liberty or choice in all matters as long as the rights of any other person are not infringed upon. The argument against legalizing euthanasia is that it will lead to disrespect for human life. Euthanasia can then be abused for criminal purposes. A financial motive is sometimes advanced in favor of euthanasia.