Voluntary Euthanasia

Nurses Activism

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MunoRN, RN

8,058 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.
Errors are not intentional killing. Euthanasia is. Withdrawing aggressive care and letting nature take its inevitable course while providing comfort is not intentional killing. Euthanasia is intentional killing.

How is unintentional killing when the patient doesn't want to die better than intentional killing when that's what the patient wants? At least with intentional killing we aren't killing someone against their wishes.

MunoRN, RN

8,058 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.
And it is, except that they're not allowed to require others to commit murder. If someone insists on suicide, they don't need help.

Sure they do. You're suggesting it's better for someone to kill themselves in a way that may involve more suffering? Do they deserve to suffer?

SionainnRN

914 Posts

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
Sure they do. You're suggesting it's better for someone to kill themselves in a way that may involve more suffering? Do they deserve to suffer?

Not only that but people fail more than they succeed with suicide. Why make things harder on everyone involved?

duskyjewel

1,335 Posts

Specializes in hospice.

I think both intentional and unintentional killing are to be avoided. Accidents are just that: accidents. No intent.

I also don't think anyone should kill themselves, but if they decide to, then they should take responsibility for that action themselves. Alone.

Look, you don't have to agree with me. But I have just as much right to my viewpoint as you do to yours.

SionainnRN

914 Posts

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

If my loved one had a terminal disease and wanted to die by euthanasia, I would make sure to honor THEIR wishes no matter what I wanted. I think people deserve the right to die with dignity and painlessly. I would never force someone to suffer because I didn't like it. I don't understand how anyone could, let alone someone in the healthcare field.

MunoRN, RN

8,058 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.
I think both intentional and unintentional killing are to be avoided. Accidents are just that: accidents. No intent.

Deaths can't always be avoided, they are actually an unavoidable part of life. The deaths we cause still have intent; we know we're going to kill a lot of people, we just don't know who specifically. If our intent was to avoid causing any deaths we should board up every hospital immediately.

I also don't think anyone should kill themselves, but if they decide to, then they should take responsibility for that action themselves. Alone.

For me, the primary purpose of nursing is to ensure that people don't have to suffer alone and without anyone trying alleviate that suffering.

Look, you don't have to agree with me. But I have just as much right to my viewpoint as you do to yours.

You have every right to your viewpoint, I'm not arguing that you don't, just that mine is different.

duskyjewel

1,335 Posts

Specializes in hospice.

What on earth did I say that led you to believe I think we can prevent all deaths? This discussion was supposed to deal only with people who are GOING to die fairly soon, it's just a matter of how and when.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Deaths can't always be avoided, they are actually an unavoidable part of life. The deaths we cause still have intent; we know we're going to kill a lot of people, we just don't know who specifically. If our intent was to avoid causing any deaths we should board up every hospital immediately.

****For me, the primary purpose of nursing is to ensure that people don't have to suffer alone and without anyone trying alleviate that suffering.***

THIS!!!!!

I advocate for my patients; if done right and they want to exercise voluntary euthanasia, add me to the list that has NO qualms about caring for the patient; they will get the best care before, during, and after the procedure similar to ones that had to be withdrawn from support.

I have also been involved when individuals were a DNR/DNI and dying...it was peaceful for the family because of the care before, during, and after the process that helped when death would be imminent to hours to days; to me it wouldn't be any different. :no:

THIS!!!!!

I advocate for my patients; if done right and they want to exercise voluntary euthanasia, add me to the list that has NO qualms about caring for the patient; they will get the best care before, during, and after the procedure similar to ones that had to be withdrawn from support.

I have also been involved when individuals were a DNR/DNI and dying...it was peaceful for the family because of the care before, during, and after the process that helped when death would be imminent to hours to days; to me it wouldn't be any different. :no:

However...cojones are needed. Many healthcare professionals don't have this necessary equipment.

duskyjewel

1,335 Posts

Specializes in hospice.
However...cojones are needed. Many healthcare professionals don't have this necessary equipment.

Implying that lack of courage is the only reason someone would oppose euthanasia is narrow-minded, to say the least.

SaoirseRN

650 Posts

We euthanize our farm animals and pets because we don't want to spend the time or money caring for them until they die from their illness or injury.

As someone who recently had to euthanize my seventeen year old cat, I take great offense to this statement. I did what I did because she was suffering, not because I didn't want to care for her. I had her for seventeen years! I spent a great deal of time caring for her and money on her and in the end, why would I allow her to continue to suffer from an irreversible illness when I could end her suffering forever?

Implying that lack of courage is the only reason someone would oppose euthanasia is narrow-minded, to say the least.

Please re- read my statement. I said.. it takes courage to carry out the patient's wishes. Not implying anything.

"lack of courage is the only reason someone would oppose euthanasia" does not compute.

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