Citation

Voss D. Journal of Pharmaceutical Care in Pain and Symptom Control 1999; 7(3): 43-52.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999)

DOI

10.1300/J088v07n03_05

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Due to growing public support for patient autonomy in end-of-life decision making, the notion of physician-assisted suicide has become less controversial among medical practitioners. Many hold that decisions regarding end-of-life care are properly made by patients, family members, and physicians directly involved with care. Given the realities of clinical practice, however, actual assistance in dying is frequently rendered by nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory technicians who are not included in the decision-making group. These health care providers are positioned between the language of professionalism which demands their active participation in all aspects of patient care, and the language of physician authority which discourages the critical questioning of physician orders, particularly concerning assistance in dying. This contradiction leads many health care providers to remain silent on the subject of assisted death, diminishing their professionalism and their contribution to public argument.

Language: en

Keywords

article; Assistance in dying; clinical practice; End-of-life decision making; Ethics of care; euthanasia; human; medical decision making; medical ethics; Nurses; paramedical personnel; Patient autonomy; patient right; Pharmaceutical care; Pharmacists; physician attitude; Professionalism; Respiratory therapists