Everyone is going to die, it’s just a matter of when and how. Every day, people choose whether they want to live. My opinion of death with dignity is that it allows an individual to have autonomy over their life. If someone no longer wants to live, they’ll find a way regardless of the law. My belief has always been quality over quantity because otherwise, what’s the point.
Death with dignity does not challenge my beliefs of the first ethical principle of nursing. I believe that the purpose of a nurse is to promote a healthy lifestyle and to improve health. Despite the great lengths that nurses go to to help avoid a patients’ deterioration in the hospital, it happens, especially in cases in which a patient is immobile or comatose. I feel like a nurse would be doing a great disservice to their patients to believe or promote life when it is no longer feasible. Nurses can not always improve life and when they can’t, they should promote comfort and autonomy. Although I agree with the death with dignity act, it doesn’t come without its complications. At what point can it be determined that someone is within their mental capacity to consent to physician-assisted death.
Smith, M. A., Torres, L., Burton, T. C. (2020). Patient Rights at the End of Life. Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. 25(2), 77-84.
What a great reflection! These scores reflect a ‘moment in time’ and wil change with experience and effort. They are simply a guide for you to use on how to be more effective and provide you with some insights into your own behaviors and how they may affect others.