Nursing involvement in euthanasia: a 'nursing-as-healing-praxis' approach

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Nursing Ethics
• Philosophy of Medicine

Background:

• Previous work found preference utilitarianism inadequate for nursing ethics, particularly concerning euthanasia.
• This article explores a traditional philosophical framework to assess nursing's role in end-of-life measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the moral legitimacy of nursing engagement in patient-ending measures.
• To evaluate euthanasia through the lens of a 'nursing-as-healing-praxis' model.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of a traditional ethical approach.
• Examination of the moral purpose and virtues inherent in nursing practice.
• Application of the 'nursing-as-healing-praxis' framework to euthanasia.

Main Results:

• The 'nursing-as-healing-praxis' approach inherently excludes nurses from administering euthanasia.
• This framework suggests that nursing's moral purpose is incompatible with intentionally ending patient lives.

Conclusions:

• Nursing involvement in euthanasia is morally illegitimate under the 'nursing-as-healing-praxis' model.
• If euthanasia is morally permissible, its administration should be outside the nursing profession.