Woods M, Bickley Asher J
School of Nursing, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Int Nurs Rev. 2015 Mar;62(1):13-20. doi: 10.1111/inr.12145. Epub 2014 Dec 1.
Through an examination of the present situation relating to legalizing euthanasia and/or physician-assisted death in New Zealand, this paper is intended to encourage nurses worldwide to ponder about their own position on the ever present topic of assisted dying and euthanasia.
In New Zealand, euthanasia remains illegal, but in 2012, the 'End of Life Choice Bill' was put in the ballot for potential selection for consideration by Parliament, later to be withdrawn. However, it is increasingly likely that New Zealand will follow international trends to offer people a choice about how their lives should end, and that such a Bill will be resubmitted in the near future. Undoubtedly, the passage of such legislation would have an impact on the day-to-day practices of nurses who work with dying people.
This article has been prepared following a comprehensive review of appropriate literature both in New Zealand and overseas.
This article aims to highlight the importance of nursing input into any national debates concerning proposed euthanasia or assisted dying laws. The discussion therefore covers New Zealand's experience of such proposed legislation, that is, the draft Bill itself and the implications for nurses, the history of the assisted dying debate in New Zealand, public and professional opinion, and national and international nursing responses to euthanasia.
New Zealand nurses will eventually have an opportunity to make their views on proposed euthanasia legislation known, and what such legislation might mean for their practice. Nurses everywhere should seriously consider their own knowledge and viewpoint on this vitally important topic, and be prepared to respond as both individuals and as part of their professional bodies when the time inevitably arrives. The result will be a better informed set of policies, regulations and legislation leading to a more meaningful and dignified experience for dying people and their families.
Nurses need to be fully informed about, and contribute to, proposed euthanasia or assisted dying legislation. They have extensive expertise in care of the dying, and should therefore be ready to influence law, policy and future nursing practices.
通过审视新西兰安乐死和/或医生协助死亡合法化的现状，本文旨在鼓励全球护士思考自己在一直存在的协助死亡和安乐死这一话题上的立场。
在新西兰，安乐死仍然非法，但在2012年，“生命终结选择法案”被提交进行投票，以供议会考虑是否选择，后来该法案被撤回。然而，新西兰越来越有可能追随国际潮流，为人们提供关于如何结束生命的选择，并且这样一项法案将在不久的将来重新提交。毫无疑问，此类立法的通过将对照顾临终患者的护士的日常工作产生影响。
本文是在对新西兰和海外的相关文献进行全面综述后撰写的。
本文旨在强调护理人员对任何关于拟议的安乐死或协助死亡法律的全国性辩论所做贡献的重要性。因此，讨论涵盖了新西兰在这类拟议立法方面的经验，即法案草案本身以及对护士的影响、新西兰协助死亡辩论的历史、公众和专业意见，以及国内和国际护理界对安乐死的反应。
新西兰护士最终将有机会表达他们对拟议的安乐死立法的看法，以及此类立法对他们工作可能意味着什么。各地护士都应认真思考自己在这个至关重要的话题上的知识和观点，并准备好在时机不可避免到来时，以个人身份和作为专业团体的一员做出回应。结果将是形成一套更明智的政策、法规和立法，为临终患者及其家人带来更有意义和尊严的体验。
护士需要充分了解拟议的安乐死或协助死亡立法，并为之做出贡献。他们在临终护理方面拥有广泛的专业知识，因此应随时准备影响法律、政策和未来的护理实践。
