One in five Americans will soon live in a state that permits aid in dying, but several hospitals and hospices have policies restricting physicians and nurses from discussing the option or being in the room when a patient ingests lethal medication, according to The New York Times.
Some hospitals and hospices, especially those that are faith-based, believe aid in dying conflicts with their mission to protect patients and avoid harm. A 2014 study found 78 percent of hospitals and hospices in the Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization prohibited nurses or other staff from being present during or after patients took a lethal prescription.
The American Nurses Association released a position statement in June that guides nurses on their role in aid in dying. The statement emphasizes that nurses with a moral or religious objection to the practice have no obligation to participate, but it also clarifies nurses' role for those who do wish to support their patients through the process.
Current policies are often vague, Liz Stokes, director of the ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights, told The New York Times. The ANA's statement clarifies words such as "participation" and "presence" and encourages organizations to provide clearer guidance to nurses on what they are allowed to do to support their patients.
Click here to read more about nurses' role in aid in dying.