Requests for assisted suicide: a nursing issue.

At the heart of the debate over assisted suicide is the recognition that not all persons can be healed and not all suffering can be relieved. This article addresses the ethical, professional and legal issues to be considered by the nurses in the United States who are facing patients' requests for assisted suicide. Both personal and professional risks, and the consequences of an action must be evaluated. Ultimately, a decision is based on some ranking of patient values; personal values and beliefs; professional codes, standards and other guidelines; and societal laws and regulations.