Navigating Communication With Families During Withdrawals Of Life-Intensive Care Case Study

According to Paul J. van der Wal et al. in ¨Euthanasia, Physician-Assisted Suicide, and Other Medical Practices Involving the End of Life in the Netherlands, 1990–1995¨, he addresses that assisted suicide should be legal and regulated. The authors’ purpose of writing this journal article is to make reliable estimates of euthanasia; to describe patients and physicians, and to evaluate changes between 1990 and 1995. Even though assisted suicide is a growing taboo, it is being practiced more each and every day. Paul J. van der Wal et al. chose to conduct two studies to answer their hypotheses.

The study also showed that for-profit, small and community hospitals had very limited accessibility to palliative care; and the higher request for physician assisted death came from outpatient facilities. It has been noted that palliative care practices are extremely low nationwide. Neither primary care physicians nor specialists who treat terminally ill patients routinely are provided with palliative care training. These are important facts since statistics show that although most individuals support the option for a physician-assisted suicide the low numbers of actual requests for assisted death reflected the preference of alternative treatment options. As patients regain the power of making decisions regarding their care, aggressive pain control measures are put in place; consideration of physician-assisted suicide becomes an avoidable option for a dignified death. Regardless of the views on physician-assisted death healthcare professional

In the article “Attitudes of Terminally Ill Patients Toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide,” seventy terminally ill patients were interviewed on three different topics: the patient’s general attitude on legalizing euthanasia, the patient’s personal circumstances, and the patient’s personal situation.

The ten areas included, symptoms, social supports, communication with health providers, spiritual meaning, care needs, end of life plans, economic burdens, sociodemographics, preferences regarding end-of-life care and euthanasia and assisted suicide, and stress of the interview (Ezekiel et al., 2000). The findings from the surveys showed that in hypothetical scenarios, 60.2% of the terminally ill patients supported euthanasia or assisted suicide, despite the fact that only 10.6% of the patients seriously contemplated it for themselves (Ezekiel et al., 2000). Many factors play into individuals choosing not to take their own life, even if they believe that others should have the right to. For example, the patients that had loved ones present in their lives were not as likely to take their own lives, but the patients that were alone, causing them to be depressed, as well as the patients who needed more intense care, were much more likely to see euthanasia or assisted suicide as a legitimate option (Ezekiel et al., 2000). 58.7% of the caregivers supported the use of euthanasia for their patients who were in pain (Ezekiel et al., 2000). After the surveys were completed, follow up interviews were conducted six months later in order to see how the patients and caregivers views might have changed (Ezekiel et al., 2000).

After researching voluntary and assisted euthanasia interviews were conducted on a spiritual leader, hospital administer, health care colleague and a friend. The interviews inquired about the interviewees personal perspectives regarding euthanasia. The follow paper demonstrates the blue group’s combined opinion on voluntary and assisted euthanasia based off the interviews conducted and personal values.

Furthermore, there were some patients who might actually consider euthanasia. Many also thought it was unnecessary to continue living with such harsh health conditions. With this study it was also realized that the perspectives on euthanasia were not particularly similar between the terminally ill patients. It was a very interesting discovery because there were patients that had two totally different viewpoints. The issue of trust is a very important factor when trying to determine their thoughts on euthanasia. The relationship between the family, patient and the physician were also brought up by the patients. These patients have very different views on the value of trust where some have complete trust, trust with some doubt, and absolutely no trust in the physicians and their family.

This article focuses on the nature and role of how nurses cope with their patients request on assist suicide also know as euthanasia. A common question nurses are often asked are “how long do I have to live?” therefore nurses are required to listen, report and explain patients request to other nurses and physicians as well as lend support to the patient and patients family. The Nurse’s Association supported four moral oppositions to assisted suicide by nurses,

Having an elderly family member fall ill to a critical illness can be devastating for the family and friends of that person. Although it is ultimately up to the patient - if they are mentally capable - to decide to have an assisted suicide death, which could cause several issue with the family members. Or if the child of the ill or elderly parent has to decide whether their mom or dad should go forward with active euthanasia, could also cause some issues amongst the family. Euthanasia and assisted suicide is a way for family members and friends to be able to say their goodbyes to their loved one and know that they won’t be suffering for much longer. First, this essay is going to explore what euthanasia and assisted suicide is, and what the

Euthanasia is an important topic for discussion in today’s society for many reasons. One reason as to why this topic is so important is that it affects the ethical as well as the legal issues pertaining to not only the patients but the health care providers as well. Euthanasia, also known as physician assisted suicide, is also an important topic of discussion because it falls under many different categories which it can be argued for and against. Euthanasia is considered an emotional, as well as a practical debate.

Eventually, terminal illnesses would put burden on the patient’s health as well as their family members who actively involve in caring for the patient. Multiple factors have influenced the patient’s reluctance in seeking for hospice care. Mostly, hospice care is a very uncomfortable topic to converse within the patient’s family as it might affect how the patient perceives such discussion. Especially in the older population, “if adult children bring up the subject of end-of-life planning, their parent will think they want to push them aside or be done with them” (Eskenazi, 2015). Such thought is not only restricted to the older individuals since patients with terminal illnesses are likely to become more sensitive as they see themselves as a burden to their family. Thus, physicians’ recommendation and

This ensures that the clients receive necessary interventions that are beyond the nurse’s scope of practice. When considering how to help each client and their family, a nurse needs not to go further than to simply ask. For acting as guides, this book provides valuable tips on how to walk with clients and their respective families through the dying experience. When a nurse acts as a guide, he or she must be able to combine his or her intuition with knowledge and communication skills in order to lead patients and their family in this last and difficult journey. Striving to become as competent and compassionate as one can, a nurse could leave a huge impact in the lives of the dying and those who are being left behind. Nurses are not only present to provide compassionate care but are also there to help the patient leave an everlasting legacy that their loved ones could never forget. Everyone who is involved with end-of-life care, whether they are part of the health care team or a family member, can truly benefit from reading this work. The patients themselves can benefit as this book can assist them to better understand what they are going through and become more aware of how much help is out there for them. This book has several strengths. Every chapter (or major topic) begins with a small anecdote or narrative of a patient’s dying experience. These narratives often involve nurses and family members. These

Within the health care team, ICU Nurses spend the most time in patient and family contact. Family members rely on Nurses to help navigate and understand the complexities of the ICU. Therefore, when asked by researchers, families identify five unique

The patient- and family-centered care model recognizes the patient and family relationship as an inseparable entity.1 Encouraging unrestrictive family presence through open visitation practices can ensure critical care patients and their families are provided with the opportunity to maintain communication, actively participate in the decision-making process, and assist with the provision of care.1 Despite professional organizations for critical care nursing advocating for unrestrictive family presence, many critical care units have not adopted an open visitation policy. 2,3 According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, approximately 70% of adult critical care units restrict family visitation.2 In Canada the percentage of critical care units that have adopted an open visitation policy is not formally recorded, however, the Canadian Association of Critical Nurses recognizes that open visitation is not a standardized practice across the country.3

Critically ill or injured patients often do not have the capacity to make difficult decisions regarding their medical care and many times this burden falls on the shoulders of the family. This newly appointed role comes with responsibilities most people are not ready for, nor want to accept, and causes compounding stress and anxiety. The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of evidence-based practice guidelines to exchange information in a systematic manner with family members who decide on care for their loved one. The interdisciplinary healthcare team can utilize effective communication with families who are in positions to make emotionally difficult decisions. This systematic type of communication has been shown to help the family with the bereavement process and work to move toward healing (Leming & Dickinson, 2011).

Euthanasia is a controversial issue. Many different opinions have been formed. From doctors and nurses to family members dealing with loved ones in the hospital, all of them have different ideas for the way they wish to die. However, there are many different issues affecting the legislation and beliefs of legalizing euthanasia. Taking the following aspects into mind, many may get a different understanding as to why legalization of euthanasia is necessary. Some of these include: misunderstanding of what euthanasia really is, doctors and nurses code of ethics, legal cases and laws, religious and personal beliefs, and economics in end-of-life care.