Nurses' definitions of and attitudes towards euthanasia

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Recent literature often assumes unproblematic nurse definitions and opinions on euthanasia.
• The study addresses the need to explore nurses' nuanced perspectives on euthanasia and decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify nurses' definitions of euthanasia.
• To explore nurses' attitudes towards euthanasia and end-of-life decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Conducted ten semi-structured interviews with nurses across various clinical settings.
• Qualitative analysis of interview data to understand perspectives on euthanasia.

Main Results:

• Most nurses differentiate active from passive euthanasia, with active euthanasia being the focus of debate.
• Nurses prioritize patient comfort and dignity, viewing treatment withdrawal and heroic measures within this context.
• Only two nurses favored active euthanasia, emphasizing shared responsibility in decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' ethical stances on euthanasia are evolving, deeply embedded in a philosophy of care.
• The debate around euthanasia is complex, with a strong emphasis on ensuring dignity and comfort for dying patients.
• Distinguishing between active euthanasia and the withdrawal of inappropriate treatment is crucial for clarity in end-of-life discussions.