Euthanasia

According to PatientRightCouncil.org, euthanasia is defined as intentionally, knowingly and directing acting to cause the death of another person. An example of euthanasia would be by giving a lethal injection (Patientrightcouncil, 2015). Physician- assisted suicide is defined as intentionally, knowingly and directly providing the means of death to another person so that the person can use that means to commit suicide (Patientrightcouncil, 2015). An example of assisted suicide would be by providing a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs.

In an article titled Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: Knowledge, attitudes and experiences of nurses in Andalusia (Spain); it talks about a study that was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of Spanish nurses in relation to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Three hundred and ninety nurses from Spain answered an online questionnaire where they identified their situation and personal instances when it comes to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (McGee, 2011). The end result of the questionnaire determined that the nurses in fact did not know enough and should be offered more education when it comes to the end of life choices that patients who are faced with these ethical issues actually have to deal with. Some questions that these nurses were asked are the following: Can you identify a case of euthanasia?, Do you know the legal status of euthanasia in Spain?, Have you ever received a euthanasia request?, Do you believe that cases have occurred in Andalusia?, Would you perform it? (McGee, 2011). Some nurses did answer the questions as truthfully as they could, and others did not feel comfortable asking these type of questions. Some nurses did not feel comfortable asking these questions because euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are not legal and they are a big ethical issue that is still in the process of debate. This is one of the main reasons why out of the...