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Rational Suicide in the Terminally Ill
Author(s) -
Fontana Joyce S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 1527-6546
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2002.00147.x
Subject(s) - terminally ill , assisted suicide , face (sociological concept) , nursing , chose , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , sociology , palliative care , law , political science , social science
Purpose: To examine the current debate over the right to die specific to the rational suicide of terminally ill patients. Methods: Literature was reviewed for information concerning historical end‐of‐life practices and the past acceptance of suicide. Another review showed philosophical opinions and perspectives that spanned from ancient Greece and the Roman Empire to modern philosophical discourse. A case study of a terminally ill woman who chose suicide is presented to apply the history and philosophy to nursing care today. Conclusions: As more nursing care is delivered in patients' homes, nurses will face this situation with increasing frequency. A call is made for organizations to provide guidelines for nursing practice.