A nurse is caring for a patient in Portland, Oregon, who has a terminal illness
The patient tells the nurse that she has made a decision "to end it all," that she has suffered enough and is considering asking her physician to prescribe medications to help her die. The nurse knows that the regulations for physician-assisted suicide include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
a. A nurse or physician must be the one to administer the medications.
b. The patient must have a prognosis of 6 months or less to live.
c. The patient must be informed of all treat-ments and alternatives.
d. The family of the patient must agree in writing to the patient's decision.
e. The patient must have received counseling to ensure that she is fully informed of the risks.
ANS: B, C
The physician-assisted suicide laws in the states of Oregon and Washington have the following requirements: The individual must be a competent adult who is free of depression and who has a prognosis of less than 6 months to live. The patient must make two requests, both verbal and in writing, repeated in 15 days, and there must be two witnesses to the request; one must not be an heir, related, or employed by the health care facility caring for the patient. The patient must have been informed of alternatives and have received counseling to ensure that the person is fully in-formed regarding the risks of such actions. Neither physicians nor nurses are permitted to admin-ister the product used.
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