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Rational Suicide Among Patients Who Are Terminally Ill
Author(s) -
Valente Sharon M.,
Trainor Donna
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/s0001-2092(06)62518-0
Subject(s) - rationality , terminally ill , assisted suicide , medicine , suicide prevention , nursing , psychiatry , psychology , medical emergency , poison control , palliative care , political science , law
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 psychological symptoms often trigger thoughts of suicide, but prompt treatment of pain and symptoms also reduces suicide risk. Ethical issues and guidelines for management of patients considering suicide and evaluation of rationality are presented. AORN J 68 (August 1998) 252–264.