Prior to the information provided in class, my thoughts on death with dignity were that this
procedure was illegal in many countries/ almost all countries. I thought that
death with dignity was absolutely illegal in the United States and that if a
patient would like to partake in this procedure this may require them to
travel. This procedure is the assistance of a healthcare provider to end the
life of a suffering patient who does not feel as though they can continue
living in the state in which they are living in.
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Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle where healthcare providers base
their career upon, “to do no harm”. In healthcare, specifically
nursing, the responsibility of the nurse is to assist the patient in the
prevention of harm ie skin breakdown via turning, ambulating, etc. However,
death with dignity or “assisted suicide” could be viewed as causing
harm to a patient. That you are ending a life that once was, and thus, is
harming the said patient.
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However, through a different lens, one could argue that allowing a patient
to suffer in pain from a terminal illness that would result in months of
suffering meanwhile having the option for “death with dignity”, but
not educating the patient is nonmaleficence. One could argue, taking a life no
matter, the circumstance is nonmaleficence however, there is two sides to every
coin. That a patient who would instead be suffering many months/years due to a
terminal illness which would cost their life at a later point deserves to be
educated upon all treatment options available.
