Physician-Assisted Suicide - History and States Update
Facing the end of life is a difficult issue both for the person nearing the end of their life and their family. Death is inevitable, people hope the end of a person’s life will come with peace and very little, or no pain. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many people. Chronic diseases and cancer are common today which may lead to suffering and pain prior to death. This has caused more discussion and interest regarding physician-assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is defined by Eliopoulos (2018) as, “Suicide committed with the help of another individual” (p. 511). It is important as healthcare providers to understand the issues around assisted suicide and how to approach such a complex issue.
One of the first things to examine are the laws in place in the specific state regarding assisted suicide. Many states have passed legislation allowing forms of assisted suicide. These laws vary from state to state. Typically, the state allows a physician to prescribe a lethal dose of medication, but the patient must be able to administer the dose themselves. Consequently, the person has chosen to commit suicide and no …show more content…
Harris (2014) said, “Terminal illness makes patients and families susceptible to physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. Older patients may worry about becoming a burden to their family at end of life” (p. 58). When the issue of assisted suicide is discussed it is important to understand why the patient believes this is the best option. The patient should involve their loved ones in the discussion. The nurse must be prepared to offer emotional support to both the patient and the family. It is important to not influence the patient when discussing assisted suicide. Education regarding the risks, any alternative options, as well as the outcomes are important to discuss prior to a plan being put into
Facing the end of life is a difficult issue both for the person nearing the end of their life and their family. Death is inevitable, people hope the end of a person’s life will come with peace and very little, or no pain. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many people. Chronic diseases and cancer are common today which may lead to suffering and pain prior to death. This has caused more discussion and interest regarding physician-assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is defined by Eliopoulos (2018) as, “Suicide committed with the help of another individual” (p. 511). It is important as healthcare providers to understand the issues around assisted suicide and how to approach such a complex issue.
One of the first things to examine are the laws in place in the specific state regarding assisted suicide. Many states have passed legislation allowing forms of assisted suicide. These laws vary from state to state. Typically, the state allows a physician to prescribe a lethal dose of medication, but the patient must be able to administer the dose themselves. Consequently, the person has chosen to commit suicide and no …show more content…
Harris (2014) said, “Terminal illness makes patients and families susceptible to physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. Older patients may worry about becoming a burden to their family at end of life” (p. 58). When the issue of assisted suicide is discussed it is important to understand why the patient believes this is the best option. The patient should involve their loved ones in the discussion. The nurse must be prepared to offer emotional support to both the patient and the family. It is important to not influence the patient when discussing assisted suicide. Education regarding the risks, any alternative options, as well as the outcomes are important to discuss prior to a plan being put into