Role Of Euthanasia Research Articles

Nurses Perception and Role of Euthanasia: A Literatur Review

Introduction: Euthanasia is the most controversial ethical topic in the world of health. Nurses have an important role in providing holistic care for people with life-limiting conditions. However, they experience internal moral conflict and helplessness when patients ask them to assist in the dying process. This literature review aims to determine what is known about nurses' perceptions and attitudes toward euthanasia.Methods: The literature search was carried out using three databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scient Direct. The inclusion criteria for the literature search were articles with publication years 2014-2022 in Indonesian or English and complete articles that could be open access. The keywords used in searching for articles were adjusted to the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH), namely knowledge, nurses' attitudes, euthanasia, and nursing euthanasia.Results: The literature review identified fifteen studies for inclusion in the final analysis. One article was semi-experimental, eight articles used a descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach, two articles used an epidemiological descriptive design, and two articles used descriptive-analytical methods. Nurses exhibit a range of attitudes towards euthanasia, including both positive and negative perspectives. Conclusion: The issue of euthanasia has presented a significant challenge for nurses in achieving their goal of providing holistic care. Their personal, professional, and transpersonal perspectives influence nurses' perceptions and attitudes. Potential implications for nurses relate to education, practice, and research. Nurses must be informed about existing laws and provided in-depth education and professional guidance to help guide action. Further research is needed to explore the impact on carers' emotional well-being, clarify their role, and determine the support they may require when engaging in euthanasia.

Euthanasia: Damaged Wildlife and the Role and Duties of a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Wildlife rehabilitators still sometimes struggle to articulate and create policies around their role and responsibilities within the profession, especially where euthanasia and the humane end to suffering is concerned. This article provides additional discussion for the ongoing dialogue on the role of euthanasia in wildlife rehabilitation and how rehabilitators should strive to meet these responsibilities, based on the principles of best science and best available care.

Attitudes of nurses towards euthanasia and towards their role in euthanasia: A nationwide study in Flanders, Belgium

Background Nurses have an important role in caring for terminally ill patients. They are also often involved in euthanasia. However, little is known about their attitudes towards it. Objectives To investigate on a nationwide level nurses’ attitudes towards euthanasia and towards their role in euthanasia, and the possible relation with their socio-demographic and work-related characteristics. Design and participants A cross-sectional design was used. In 2007, a questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 6000 of the registered nurses in Flanders, Belgium. Response rate was 62.5% and after exclusion of nurses who had no experiences in patient care, a sample of 3321 nurses remained. Methods Attitudes were attained by means of statements. Logistic regression models were fitted for each statement to determine the relation between socio-demographic and work-related characteristics and nurses’ attitudes. Results Ninety-two percent of nurses accepted euthanasia for terminally ill patients with extreme uncontrollable pain or other distress, 57% accepted using lethal drugs for patients who suffer unbearably and are not capable of making decisions. Seventy percent believed that euthanasia requests would be avoided by the use of optimal palliative care. Ninety percent of nurses thought nurses should be involved in euthanasia decision-making. Although 61% did not agree that administering lethal drugs could be a task nurses are allowed to perform, 43% would be prepared to do so. Religious nurses were less accepting of euthanasia than non-religious nurses. Older nurses believed more in palliative care preventing euthanasia requests and in putting the patient into a coma until death as an alternative to euthanasia. Female and home care nurses were less inclined than male and hospital and nursing home nurses to administer lethal drugs. Conclusions There is broad support among nurses for euthanasia for terminally ill patients and for their involvement in consultancy in case of euthanasia requests. There is, however, uncertainty about their role in the performance of euthanasia. Guidelines could help to make their role more transparent, taking into account the differences between health care settings.

A 'pain-free' death

The time around a patient's death is often filled with sadness, but good medical and nursing care can provide comfort to patients and their carers at this critical time. For many, a 'pain-free' death is a priority although there are other aspects to providing good care at the end of life. Honest, open discussion with patients and carers about their wishes is an essential prerequisite to individualized care. Relevant literature was reviewed with regards to policy, education and delivery of end of life care. Pain management must be tailored to the individual with due regard to the route of analgesic administration in those unable to swallow, and consideration to the other circumstances surrounding a person's care. All staff caring for dying patients should address pain as a priority in managing end of life care, to promote the best possible death for patients and prevent undue distress for carers and staff. This review has approached patient care at the end of life within current UK legislation, outlining what can be done to promote a 'pain-free' death. Debate continues about the role of euthanasia within end of life care and the use of analgesics and sedatives in pain management in terminal care. There is a range of tools available to help staff to care for dying patients, such as the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for the Dying. It is most effective when introduced as part of a wider system of staff education in relation to terminal care. Research into care of the dying will continue to be challenging. Priorities include; whether the use of tools such as the LCP improve the care patients receive, and the development of routine outcome measures including validated reports from patients and proxies.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide in Dutch hospitals: the role of nurses

To report a study on the role of nurses in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in hospitals, conducted as part of a wider study on the role of nurses in medical end-of-life decisions. Issues concerning legislation and regulation with respect to the role of nurses in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide gave the Dutch Minister for Health reason to commission a study on the role of nurses in medical end-of-life decisions in hospitals, homecare and nursing homes. A questionnaire was sent in 2003 to 692 nurses employed in 73 hospital locations. The response suitable for analysis was from 532 (76.9%) nurses. Data were quantitatively analysed using spss version 11.5 for Windows. In almost half of the cases (45.1%), the nurse was the first with whom patients discussed their request for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. Consultations between physicians and nurses quite often took place (78.8%). In several cases (15.4%), nurses themselves administered the euthanatics with or without a physician. It is not self-evident that hospitals have guidelines concerning euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide. In the decision-making process, the consultation between the physician and the nurse needs improvement. In administering the euthanatics, physicians should take responsibility and should not leave these actions to nurses. Guidelines may play an important role to improve the collaboration between physicians and nurses and to prevent procedural, ethical and legal misunderstandings. Nurses in clinical practice are often closely involved in the last stage of a person's life. Consequently, they are often confronted with caring for patients requesting euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. The results provide relevant information and may help nurses in defining their role in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, especially in case these practices should become legalised.

Dutch Nurses' Attitudes Towards Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide

This article presents the attitudes of nurses towards three issues concerning their role in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 1509 nurses who were employed in hospitals, home care organizations and nursing homes. The study was conducted in the Netherlands between January 2001 and August 2004. The results show that less than half (45%) of nurses would be willing to serve on committees reviewing cases of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. More than half of the nurses (58.2%) found it too far-reaching to oblige physicians to consult a nurse in the decision-making process. The majority of the nurses stated that preparing euthanatics (62.9%) and inserting an infusion needle to administer the euthanatics (54.1%) should not be accepted as nursing tasks. The findings are discussed in the context of common practices and policies in the Netherlands, and a recommendation is made not to include these three issues in new regulations on the role of nurses in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.

Euthanasia and physician‐assisted suicide in the Dutch homecare sector: the role of the district nurse

This paper is a report of the findings of a study into the role of district nurses in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in homecare organizations, conducted as part of a study into the role of nurses in medical end-of-life decisions. Issues concerning legislation and regulation with respect to the role of nurses in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide gave the Minister for Health reason to commission a study into the role of nurses in medical end-of-life decisions in hospitals, nursing homes and homecare organizations. This is the first quantitative study from the perspective of nurses. Previous quantitative studies were conducted under physicians and information on the role of nurses was obtained indirectly. A questionnaire was sent in 2003 to 500 district nurses employed in 55 homecare organizations. The absolute response rate was 86.0% and 81.6% (408) could be used for analysis. In 22.3% of 278 cases, the district nurse was the first with whom patients discussed their request for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. In about half (49.8%) of 267 cases nurses were not involved in the general practitioner's decision-making process, and in only 13.3% of 264 cases, did they attend the administration of the lethal drugs. District nurses had provided some degree of aftercare to the surviving relatives in 80.3% of 264 cases. Collaboration between general practitioners and district nurses needs improvement, particularly in relation to decision-making. Our Dutch data could help nurses in other countries to define their (future) role in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.

The physician can play a positive role in euthanasia

The physician can play a positive role in euthanasia