Assisted suicide: is there a future? Ethical and nursing considerations.
It is imperative that nurses take a personal and professional stand in the debate regarding physician-assisted suicide. Through case examples, this article defines and illustrates forms of euthanasia, including active and passive, voluntary and involuntary, double-effect, physician-assisted suicide, and physician aid-in-dying. Ethical arguments against assisted suicide based on pain and suffering, quality of life, patient autonomy, and the common good are presented. The anticipated negative effects that legalized physician-assisted death would pose to the health professions and society are discussed. Guidelines and nursing implications conclude the article.
Kowalski
S D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D034723:Double Effect Principle; D004989:Ethics; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012935:Social Justice; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D035761:Wedge Argument; D028761:Withholding Treatment