Euthanasia: mercy, morals and medicine.
The case of Sue Rodriguez has made it painfully clear that it is the ethical responsibility of every nurse to become involved in the debate on euthanasia. If advocacy is the essence of nursing,as has been suggested, then that advocacy must extend to clients such as Rodriguez. It is our responsibility to help our clients reach decisions that are truly their own, to help them determine the unique meaning that health, illness, suffering and dying have for them as individuals. It is also our responsibility to assist our clients to exercise their freedom of self-determination. To participate fully in this debate it is essential that we examine our own beliefs, determine how they concur or conflict with our role as client advocates, and how they apply to this issue.
Van Weel
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D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000451:nursing*; D002170:Canada; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012297:Right to Die; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence