should patients be able to choose to end their life if they are in pain and dying

lovehospital · Mar 25, 2009

LoveHospital,
Can't you just respect other people's beliefs???
If you intend on being a nurse you need to learn how to do this.
Without patronizing, insulting or judging them.
In fact, even Jesus said "Judge not lest ye be judged!"

I'm not,everyone has the right to believe in what they want....however the right to euthanasia will never happen in America, the great land that you just mentioned,because we have such diverse population.

Lorie P. · Mar 25, 2009

lovehospital,
can't you just respect other people's beliefs???
if you intend on being a nurse you need to learn how to do this.
without patronizing, insulting or judging them. even i'm learning how to keep my big mouth shut. if i can do it then it can't be that hard.
in fact, even jesus said "judge not lest ye be judged!"

:yeah: :yeah: stanley-rn2b for this post, exactly how i feel and you said it very well!

Atheos · Mar 25, 2009

I'm not,everyone has right to believe in what they want....however the right to euthanasia will never happen in America,because we have such diverse population.

The right to assisted suicide is happening right now. Oregon + others.

Are you not paying attention?

5 states have no law on assisted suicide meaning it ISN'T illegal and 1 states specifically allows it.

More are debating it.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

Show the script in the bible that say "It is ok to assist someone in taking their life,than maybe I will agree...
It is against ten commandments to kill yourself or someone else,the last time I checked it hasnt been revised,also I found a very interesting link about a girl who is paraplegic (paralysis of waist down).She talks about her experience

I am the one that mentioned paraplegic but I did get it wrong, that wasn't the disability I was meaning (forgive me I don't start NS until August) but I was talking about where your entire body is basically paralyzed, you can't move, you can't talk, like all you can do is blink pretty much, or even if I was paralyzed from the neck down. I wouldn't want to live like that. I have many friends that are what could be called "bible thumpers" yet they believe in the death penalty. That always seemed hypocritical too me, they would tell me why it wasn't, but regardless it seems that way to me. it doesn't say in the bible you can kill yourself, just like it doesn't say you can assault and rape people. Everyone was given free will though to make their own choices. If they make bad choices it's on them and between them and their higher power if they have one. With all the different religious views in this world or lack of any religious views. No ONE religion should be making our laws. Unless you are dead, you can't be sure which one is correct or even exist to force others to follow it. IMO

frumpter · Mar 25, 2009

I am 100% for assisted suicide. After watching my grandmother die from cancer, slowly withering away to nothing, the last few weeks so doped up on morphine she had no idea she was even alive...I would have gladly helped her out of her misery into eternal peace. I wouldn't feel as though I had a stain on my soul or guilty in the slightest. I feel it is humane, and I feel it would be out of love.

If a person would rather die with all their wits about them instead of lingering and withering away for months, so high on morphine they cannot form a coherent thought, that should be THEIR choice. And I am all for it. Cancer is a nasty, horrible animal. I don't wish it on anyone.

truern · Mar 25, 2009

suffering no matter how cruel it sounds also have a meaning.

I hope that if you're ever suffering you'll realize how meaningful it is (not!) and that your nurse shares your beliefs.

the right to euthanasia will never happen in America, the great land that you just mentioned,because we have such diverse population.

I'm having trouble following this train of thought....explain how a diverse population has anything to do with euthanasia...btw, NOT the topic of this thread.

mc3, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

Yes.
However, I think that the hospice route of making the patient NPO and then giving Roxanol/Ativan/Actiq and any other drugs they may require to go as painlessly as possible is better than giving lethal injections.
Who here would honestly want to give a lethal injection to someone dying anyway? I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

Just to clarify - hospice doesn't "make" a patient NPO - they continue to offer the patient food/fluids as tolerated until they are no longer able to take them. And, we don't give drugs "to go as painlessly as possible" - we give medications to ease a symptom and keep the patient comfortable so they CAN die - from the disease, not the meds. I'm nitpicking, I know, but there is a difference...

mc3 :nurse:

And yes, I do think a person ought to be able to choose. It should be between them and their physician only.

lilla_fjaril · Mar 26, 2009

Also, yes. I applaud Oregon and Washington for allowing this choice. People can say all they want about 'playing God' but last I checked we still had freedom of religion in this country and people who choose to die probably don't feel their decision is violating their religious beliefs.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 26, 2009

I live in Oregon, and before I became a nurse---back when the assisted suicide law was being considered---I was completely against the Death With Dignity Act. Not only did I believe that God alone has the right to decide when it's our time (and I still do), I feared that the "right" to die would become the duty to die.......especially when the patient was elderly, disabled, or poor. These are people who are not valued in our society, and I was afraid that they would be pressured into ending their lives once they became a 'burden' to their families and/or the taxpayers.

That, thankfully, has not been the case. While Medicaid does pay for the drugs required to accomplish assisted suicide, it also continues to pay for most reasonable costs of care for the poor; the law also is not largely being abused by greedy families or lawyers eager to get their hands on the assets of frail elders. For the vast majority of dying patients who have used the Death With Dignity Act to determine how and when they will end their lives, it has been a blessing, and for my part, I've seen enough suffering to understand now why it was a necessary piece of legislation.

That said, I would not assist in a suicide because I believe it is wrong for me to do so. It's one thing to give the final dose of morphine that eases pain or dyspnea enough to enable the patient to relax and let go of life; it's entirely another to mash up an overdose of barbiturates in pudding and feed it to him/her. I couldn't live with myself if I were to do such a thing. But I certainly don't judge anyone for making this decision for themselves, nor would I want to see it prohibited again. Sometimes patients experience intractable pain that all the comfort measures at our disposal cannot relieve; who's to say that that unfortunate person MUST continue to suffer?

lovehospital · Mar 26, 2009

It is not like we let the patients suffer horribly,I mean there are a lot of potent drugs out there can be used when providing the palliative care,another separate issue is that the nurses are afraid to give increased amount morphine or dont have the orders for it,I have no problem with giving larger doses of opioids if it will alleviate the pain.Maybe instead of supporting or debating the ethics of assisted suicide/euthanasia nurses should focus more and have less fear on providing a palliative care.

lovehospital · Mar 26, 2009

I hope that if you're ever suffering you'll realize how meaningful it is (not!) and that your nurse shares your beliefs.
I'm having trouble following this train of thought....explain how a diverse population has anything to do with euthanasia...btw, NOT the topic of this thread.

I think you misunderstood my view on pain and suffering.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

It is not like we let the patients suffer horribly,I mean there are a lot of potent drugs out there can be used when providing the palliative care,another separate issue is that the nurses are afraid to give increased amount morphine or dont have the orders for it,I have no problem with giving larger doses of opioids if it will alleviate the pain.Maybe instead of supporting or debating the ethics of assisted suicide/euthanasia nurses should focus more and have less fear on providing a palliative care.

I have cared for numerous people at end of life, and believe me, there are times when there aren't enough opioids to relieve the person's pain. It's not a matter of being afraid to administer the appropriate dose, nor is it a matter of not having appropriate orders. The hospital I work for has a strong palliative care program in place, with critical care hospitalists certified in end of life care.

Assisted suicide is about a little thing called "self determination", and as an RN, I support patients' self efficacy and right to self determination. It's basic to being a nurse, IMO.