Self-Determination, End-of-Life Decisions, and the Role of Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners should be aware that societal changes could lead to their being asked to actively assist terminally ill patients who wish to end their lives, as opposed to their current supportive role in palliative care. With physician staff shortages and the need for nurse practitioners to fill the gaps, end-of-life responsibilities could be placed in the hands of nurse practitioners, rather than being reserved for physicians alone (Sagon, 2013). End-of-life matters raise uncertainties about the nurse practitioner role because it differs state by state, relates to ethics, reflects the religious beliefs of those involved, and concerns the conflict of nurses simultaneously caring for their patients while advocating for their right to self-determination in choosing to end their lives.