Visit our new beta site!

Rational suicide among patients who are terminally ill.

From: AORN Journal  |  Date: 8/1/1998  |  Author: Trainor, Donna; Valente, Sharon M.

Patients' end-of-life decisions challenge nurses. Often, aggressive, life-prolonging strategies create ethical dilemmas for nurses when patients decide to stop treatment. In Oregon, assisted suicide is legal and will have a profound effect on nursing practice. When a patient considers suicide, nurses need to examine the patient's mental health, symptom management, and rational decision-making ability. Evaluation of suicide risk is a priority. Nurses need to recognize that medical and ...

Browse by alphabet: