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  • Essay / The Ethical Dilemma of Assisted Suicide for Nurses

    The Code of Ethics for Nurses was created to guide nurses in carrying out their duties in a manner that respects the ethical responsibilities of the nursing profession and the quality of nursing care. . The Code of Ethics, however, contains excellent guidelines on how nurses should behave; these parameters are not specific. They do not determine what is right and wrong, forcing nurses to ultimately make that decision. Ethics in nursing involves individual interpretation based on personal morals and values. Nursing professionals have an ethical responsibility to be altruistic, that is, to be a nurse who cares for patients without self-interest. This results in a nurse who acts as a patient advocate, who makes decisions that are in the best interest of the patient, and who practices sound nursing ethics. Since it is not always easy to resolve ethical dilemmas through the use of the Code of Ethics, ethical decision-making models are effective tools that can help nurses deal with ethical issues. ethics. Ethical decision-making models provide a framework for facing difficult choices. They seek to define the boundaries of what is morally acceptable and help clarify guidelines for making these difficult decisions. Ethical decision-making models help nurses analyze situations by focusing on understanding patients' needs, the need to respond to circumstantial considerations, and recognizing the uniqueness of each situation. In today's society, one of the most controversial ethical issues related to health care is assisted care. suicide in terminally ill patients. Assisted suicide should not be confused with ethically justified end-of-life decisions and actions. Nurses have a responsibility to make comprehensive and compassionate judgments about their own fate. In line with this trend, there is now a growing desire to review current laws on euthanasia and assisted suicide. (McCormack, 1998) Nurses face various ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. If these ethical decisions are not handled professionally, they can have serious consequences for both the patient and the nurse. Nursing is founded on the Hippocratic practice of “do no harm” and an ethic of moral opposition to the idea of ​​ending the lives of others. . The Code of Ethics for Nurses prohibits the intentional ending of any human life. Nurses are, however, required to provide ease of suffering, comfort and, ideally, a death consistent with the values ​​and wishes of the dying patient; It is essential that nurses respect the ethical obligations of the profession and do not participate in assisted suicide. (King, 2003)