A hospice nurse has been working closely with a client who, on several occasions, has asked about guidance and support in ending her life. The nurse, in making an ethical and moral decision, should recognize that:
1. Passive euthanasia is an easy decision to arrive at.
2. Legal issues are not the same as moral or ethical ones.
3. Active euthanasia is supported in the Code for Nurses.
4. Assisted suicide is illegal in all states.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Passive euthanasia involves the withdrawal of extraordinary means of life support and is never an easy decision.
Rationale 2: Determining whether an action is legal is only one aspect of deciding whether it is ethical. Legality and morality are not one and the same. The nurse must know and follow the legal statutes of the profession and boundaries within the state before making any decision.
Rationale 3: Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are in violation of the Code for Nurses, according to the position statement by the ANA (1995).
Rationale 4: Some states and countries have laws permitting assisted suicide for clients who are severely ill, are near death, and wish to commit suicide.
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