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ABSTRACT:
Globally and in India the number of terminally ill patients has increased sharply due to increase in the incidence of Non Communicable Diseases. Quality palliative care is an important concern for the health care professionals. There are many ethical issues revolving End-of-life care. One such controversial issue is euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). Views on euthanasia differ from religion to religion. There are many arguments for and against euthanasia. Very few countries in the world have legalized euthanasia, PAS or both. India has become a step closer in legalizing passive euthanasia through the recent honorable Supreme Court judgment in the Aruna Shaunbag Case. The role of a physician in euthanasia or PAS is already a well-known fact. Even though nurses role in this is still unclear, few nurse clinicians / researchers have already stressed the important role nurse's play in assessing and assisting with euthanasia and PAS.
KEY WORDS: Terminally ill patients - euthanasia - PAS - India - Nurse's role.
INTRODUCTION:
With the incidence of Non Communicable Diseases on the rise, the numbers of terminally ill patients are also increasing both globally and in India. There is an urgent need in our country to strengthen palliative care services. Dealing with death and dying (which includes requests for euthanasia) is an integral part of the practice of medicine. Health care providers are confronted daily with ethical issues related to end-of-life care. One of the most emotionally wrenching and contentious issues is that of euthanasia. Often, discussion about this difficult topic is polarized, leaving patients, families, and clinicians lacking in guidance. Nurses need to be well versed on the issue of euthanasia. Patients and families often ask nurses about information regarding aid-in-dying. In several clinical settings, nurses also requested to participate in this practice. Without adequate understanding of the ethical and legal implication of assisted death, nurses risk engaging in practices that violate their professional and personal ethics, as well as practices that are illegal (Ersek, 2004)1.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMINOLOGY
The English philosopher Sir Francis Bacon coined the phrase "euthanasia" early in the 17th century. Euthanasia derived form the Greek words 'eu' and 'thanatos', means literally a 'good death'. In contemporary society, this literal interpretation of a good death has changed to mean...