Purpose The Group Presentation is the final of the three assignments in this course. It builds upon and utilizes information gathered and reported in the first two assignments. The purpose of this ass

Article Interpretation: Ethics of Euthanasia

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NR449- Evidence Based Practice

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Problem

The topic that guides this presentation is “Ethics of Euthanasia.” The problem being addressed in this presentation is the application of euthanasia among terminally ill patients and the preceding consequences, especially when the procedure is physician-assisted. Another approach to this problem that will be approach is to compare euthanasia and palliative care. These two concepts are opposites, as palliative care requires specialized care for individuals with terminal illnesses. In other words, these people would also qualify for physician-assisted euthanasia. With this context in mind, the discussion will explore the ethical considerations related to autonomy, relief of suffering, and the impact on healthcare providers and the patient’s family.

The topic of euthanasia is significant as it is directly related to the concept of patient outcomes. Specifically, it can impact the well-being of terminally ill patients. A statistic highlighting the significance of the problem is by Mallah et al. (2019), who indicate that about 77% of cancer patients report moderate to severe pain, and only about 65% receive adequate pain management. Another concerning finding in the research is that terminally ill patients fear pain, especially when receiving end-of-life care. These findings emphasize the pressing need to address the ethical questions surrounding the appropriateness of physician-assisted euthanasia in cases where patients experience severe discomfort. It asks whether practitioners must alleviate their patient’s discomfort and whether this promotes or distracts from ensuring patient well-being.

Therefore, this paper aims to analyze two articles that offer insight into the ethical implications of physician-assisted euthanasia compared to palliative care for terminally ill adult patients. The ethical principles guiding this exploration are patient autonomy, the procedure’s potential impact on family members and medical practitioners, and the duty to relieve patient suffering. An evidence matrix will be completed and provided in the appendix section with an appropriate reference, purpose, variables, sample size, and major findings of each article. The PICOT question guiding this interpretation of the articles is “In terminally ill adult patients, what are the ethical implications of physician-assisted euthanasia compared to palliative care in terms of patient autonomy, relief of suffering, and impact on families and healthcare providers?”

Evidence Matrix Table Template: Data Summary

The purpose of this section is to describe data input in the Evidence Matrix Table. The data is vital as it provides an opportunity to compare and contrast the two articles selected most appropriately responding to the PICOT question. In addition, this comparison will allow highlighting of the articles’ purpose, methods, and, notably, the significant findings they present. Please see Appendix A for the complete Evidence Matrix Table, which includes a detailed description of the data from the two articles: Akdeniz et al. (2021) and Pesut et al. (2019).

Description of Findings

Variables

The independent variable in the article by Akdeniz et al. (2021) is ethical principles, while the dependent variable is the ethical challenges and difficulties encountered in end-of-life care. On the other hand, for Pesut et al. (2019), there are multiple independent variables, including ethical principles, moral consistency, the nature of the social good, and the nature of nursing. However, the article’s dependent variable is the ethical arguments surrounding euthanasia in nursing practice. Since both these articles are qualitative and exploratory, variables are not explicitly stated when they describe their research process.

Methods

The two articles selected use qualitative study design and procedures. Akdeniz et al. (2021) depend on a qualitative study design, specifically a narrative review, and draw information from varied sources, including research studies, ethical guidelines, and expert opinions, to discuss ethical difficulties in end-of-life care. Similarly, Pesut et al. (2019) systematically searched nine electronic databases and synthesized information to provide an overview of the ethical arguments surrounding euthanasia in relation to nursing practice.

Participants

The two articles are similar in that they are both qualitative since they depend on literature reviews. Therefore, neither of the articles relied on participants to provide data. Instead, the studies turned on information they retrieved from various sources and did not involve primary data collection from participants.

Instruments

The article by Akdeniz et al. (2021) is purely a narrative review and does not provide details on the instruments used to collect and synthesize information. In contrast, the article by Pesut et al. (2019) systematically searched nine electronic databases and loaded articles into an EPPI-Reviewer. A screening process was then used to determine if the articles met the eligibility criteria. Then a critical analysis of the articles was conducted, and data were thematically categorized based on the nature of the questions and arguments used to address those questions.

Implications for Future Work

The research findings in both articles provide valuable insights into the ethical dimensions of the clinical problem surrounding euthanasia in end-of-life care and its implications for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. Akdeniz et al. (2021) highlight the importance of adhering to ethical principles such as fidelity, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice in end-of-life care. Pesut et al. (2019) explore the arguments for and against euthanasia, emphasizing the need for nurses to consider various ethical factors and the scarcity of literature on the topic. While the findings contribute to understanding the clinical problem, further evidence is needed to examine the perspectives of patients, families, and healthcare providers directly involved in end-of-life care decision-making.

Based on the current findings, two questions that can guide the group’s work are:

1. What are the experiences and perspectives of terminally ill patients, their families, and healthcare providers regarding euthanasia and palliative care?

2. How can healthcare professionals, including nurses, be better prepared to address the ethical challenges and dilemmas of euthanasia in end-of-life care?

Conclusion

The two articles, Akdeniz et al. (2021) and Pesut et al. (2019), have provided valuable insights into the ethical implications of euthanasia in end-of-life care. The narrative reviews have shed light on the ethical challenges healthcare professionals face and the arguments surrounding euthanasia concerning nursing practice. The findings emphasize the importance of adhering to ethical principles and considering the multifaceted nature of the ethical debate. While the studies contribute to understanding the clinical problem, further evidence is needed to explore the perspectives of patients, families, and healthcare providers directly involved in end-of-life care decision-making. Moving forward, it is crucial to consider the experiences and viewpoints of all stakeholders and develop a comprehensive understanding of the ethical dimensions of euthanasia to inform and guide healthcare practice.

References

Akdeniz, M., Yardımcı, B., & Kavukcu, E. (2021). Ethical Considerations at the end-of-life Care. SAGE Open Medicine, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211000918.

Mallah, H., Mousa, R., Fadl, N. B., Musmar, S., Ball, S., & Nugent, K. (2019). Pain Severity and Adequacy of Pain Management in Terminally Ill Patients with Cancer: An Experience from North Palestine. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 25(4), 494–500. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_39_19.

Pesut, B., Greig, M., Thorne, S., Storch, J., Burgess, M., Tishelman, C., Chambaere, K., & Janke, R. (2019). Nursing and euthanasia: A narrative review of the nursing ethics literature. Nursing Ethics, 27(1), 096973301984512. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019845127.

Appendix A

Evidence Matrix Table: Data Summary