Giese Constanze
Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München, Preysingstrasse 83, 81667 München, Germany.
Nurs Ethics. 2009 Mar;16(2):231-7. doi: 10.1177/0969733008100368.
The nursing profession in Germany is facing a public debate on legal and ethical questions concerning euthanasia on request and physician-assisted suicide. However, it seems questionable if the profession itself, individual nurses or the professional associations are prepared to be involved in such a public debate. To understand this hesitation, the present situation is considered in the light of the tradition and history of professional care in Germany. Obedience to medical as well as to religious authorities was long part of nurses' professional identity, but is no longer relevant. The lack of reflection and discussion on how to take a balanced view of ethical and political questions concerning nursing, and the role and responsibility of nurses in end-of-life decisions and situations of caring for dying people are discussed using the situation of nurses in the Netherlands as a comparison.
德国的护理行业正面临一场关于应要求安乐死和医生协助自杀的法律与伦理问题的公开辩论。然而，该行业本身、个体护士或专业协会是否准备好参与这样的公开辩论，似乎存在疑问。为理解这种犹豫态度，现将德国专业护理的传统和历史背景下的现状加以考量。长期以来，服从医疗及宗教权威一直是护士职业身份的一部分，但如今已不再适用。本文通过与荷兰护士的情况作比较，探讨了在如何平衡看待护理相关伦理和政治问题，以及护士在临终决策和照顾濒死患者情境中的角色与责任方面，缺乏反思和讨论的问题。
