Euthanasia and end of life care

Euthanasia and assisted suicide pose unique challenges for healthcare professionals, including nurses and nursing students.

While nurses are trained to provide compassionate care for patients nearing the end of their lives, ending a patient’s life at their request through lethal drugs is a complex issue.

The process of handling euthanasia requests is highly regulated, with the ultimate responsibility resting with the physician. Belgian nurses, including nursing students, may be involved in the process. Therefore, Demedts et al. examined the attitudes, skills, and future role of Belgian nursing students in euthanasia because of unbearable mental suffering.

This presentation will provide a global overview of medical assistance in dying worldwide, a detailed description of the Belgian euthanasia law, as well as the key findings of the study by Demedts et al. among Belgian final-year nursing students.