Nederländska sjuksköterskors personliga åsikter om dödshjälp
Aim. The aim of the study is to highlight Dutch nurses? opinions about assisted death. Background. Since 2002 it has been legally justified for physicians to assist a patients? death in the Netherlands. Public and ethical debate, scientific research, guidelines for prudent practice and legislatures focus predominantly on the role of physicians, seemingly assuming that the tasks of other health care professionals are less important. Though, the nurse cares for the patient on a daily basis, and has a close relationship with the terminally ill and their next of kin. Method. A qualitative method was used. Twelve nurses were used in the study, and they received a questionnaire with open questions where they were supposed to motivate their personal opinions related to assisted death. Results. Three main categories (and seven sub categories) highlights the nurses? opinions; the meeting (discussion, next of kin), inner conflicts (religion, participation) and influences (pain relief, living will, laws and criteria). Conclusions. The Swedish taboo concerning assisted death need to be removed. The quality of the palliative care is decisive of when the patients? request of assisted death is putted. Continuous discussion elicits underlying factors of why a request of assisted death is putted.