Death with dignity has been a controversial topic since I remember hearing about it for the first time in high school. At the time it didn’t make much sense to me because I thought “why would someone want to know when they are going to die?” However, as I have learned more about it through this class, it has become clear to me that death with dignity is the best gift that can be given to a person with a terminal illness. When someone is diagnosed as terminal, they know they are going to die soon, but they have no control over when, how and who will be there. They know that at the end they may not be able to communicate, they won’t be themselves and they definitely will not be who they want to be remembered as. Death with dignity gives terminally ill patients the autonomy to choose when and how they die and how they will be remembered. They also don’t have to use the prescription once they get it, they can choose not to but having the option to end their life on their terms gives dignity and respect to the patient.

As health care workers we are constantly told “do no harm,” however when I think about this saying, I think “do what is best for the patient.” I can understand how some might see death with dignity to be an ethical dilemma against nonmaleficence because the healthcare providers are supposed to heal their patients. When there is no chance of healing and death is imminent, isn’t the best thing we can do as healthcare providers is to give the patient control over how and when they die instead of just waiting for the inevitable when they will not be themselves anymore? As the nurse, it is my duty to protect my patient’s safety, however it is also my duty to advocate for my patient’s in order to protect their autonomy, dignity, and do what is best for them. In terminally ill patients, because death is imminent, as the nurse I can no longer protect their safety in that sense and must be more of an advocate for them.