Nurses are faced with situations where legal and ethical considerations are complex and sometimes don’t have a simple or clear solution. Unfortunately, nurses are frequently held accountable in these complex situations, which is why it is important for nurses to understand what they can and can’t do, what they will be accountable for, and what they are responsible for. In this assessment, you will analyze a complex topic from an ethical and legal perspective. You should also analyze its impact on nurses and accountability.
The topic is as follows:
Euthanasia and assisted suicide
Research your selected topic.
Analyze a nurse’s legal responsibilities related to your selected topic.
Analyze a nurse’s ethical responsibilities related to your selected topic.
Take a position on the topic and explain your position in detail.
Summarize the steps in the ethical decision-making model you employed and the process used to arrive at your position.
Discuss how your position affects nurses and how nurses can be held accountable in situations related to your selected topic.
Sample Answer
The topics of euthanasia and assisted suicide (often referred to as Medical Aid in Dying or MAID) represent some of the most profound challenges in modern nursing. These issues force a confrontation between the foundational nursing principle of "preserving life" and the evolving priority of "patient autonomy."
The following analysis explores the legal and ethical frameworks surrounding these practices and the implications for nursing accountability.
Legal Responsibilities of the Nurse
A nurse’s legal responsibility is primarily dictated by the Nurse Practice Act (NPA) of the state in which they are licensed and federal guidelines.
Jurisdictional Variability: In the United States, active euthanasia (the direct administration of a lethal substance by a clinician) is illegal in all 50 states and is prosecuted as homicide. However, Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)—where a physician prescribes a lethal dose that the patient self-administers—is legal in several states (e.g., Oregon, Washington, California).
The "Line of Participation": Legally, nurses in MAID-legal states are generally permitted to provide education and emotional support. However, they are strictly prohibited from administering the medication. A nurse who pushes a syringe or places the pill in a patient's mouth could be charged with assisted suicide or manslaughter, even in a state where the practice is legal for the patient.
Documentation and Reporting: Nurses have a legal duty to document patient requests for end-of-life hastening. Failure to report these requests to the medical team or, conversely, participating in unauthorized "mercy killings" can lead to the permanent revocation of a nursing license.