An Ethical Perspective on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands From a Nursing Point of View
Creator
van der Arend, Arie J.G.
Bibliographic Citation
Nursing Ethics. 1998 Jul; 5(4): 307-318.
Abstract
In the Netherlands, euthanasia and assisted suicide are formally forbidden by criminal law, but, under certain strictly formulated conditions, physicians are excused for administering these to patients on the basis of necessity. These conditions are bound up with a long process of criteria development. Therefore, physicians still live in uncertainty. Future court decisions may change the criteria. Apart from that, physicians can always be prosecuted. The position of nurses, however, is perfectly clear; they are never allowed to administer euthanasia or assisted suicide. Nevertheless, they should be involved in the decision-making process because they are an important source of information and have consultation skills. The openness of the discussion about these issues in the Netherlands may prevent an escalation of medical or nursing responsibility and falling victim to the 'slippery slope'.
Permanent Link
Find in a Library.http://hdl.handle.net/10822/757028
Date
1998-07Subject
Active Euthanasia; Assisted Suicide; Attitudes; Communication; Criminal Law; Consultation; Drugs; Empirical Research; Ethics; Euthanasia; Government; Government Regulation; Guidelines; Knowledge; Law; Legal Aspects; Nurse's Role; Nurses; Nursing Ethics; Organizations; Patient Advocacy; Patients; Physician Nurse Relationship; Physicians; Referral and Consultation; Regulation; Research; Statistics; Suicide; Terminal Care; Uncertainty; Voluntary Euthanasia;
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An Ethical Perspective on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands From a Nursing Point of View
van der Arend, Arie J.G. (1998-07)