In its latest report, the National Order of Nurses refuses any legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. However, it makes 10 proposals on the management of the end of life.
Thursday January 16, the administrative court of Châlons-en-Champagne suspended the decision of the University Hospital of Reims to stop the diet of Vincent Lambert tetraplegic of 37 years. This court decision obviously revives the debate on the end of life and therapeutic relentlessness in France. In this delicate context, the National Order of Nurses has taken an unambiguous position. He clearly states his opposition to “any legalization of euthanasia and / or assisted suicide.” “
Mandatory training for doctors and nurses
In addition, in a recently published report, the National Council of the Order of Nurses makes 10 proposals for improving end-of-life care and changing the role of nurses. He calls for “making pain management a national public health cause.” As such, it offers in particular compulsory training on the subject of the end of life for doctors and nurses, as well as an optimization of nursing skills. As such, the Order calls for making the texts known to all health professionals.
Make advance directives enforceable
In addition, nurses want to make compulsory the presence of a night nurse in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (EHPAD). No doubt more controversial, the Order intends to make advance directives enforceable, which allow all citizens to specify their wishes as to their end of life. In other words, a refusal of any clearly expressed therapeutic relentlessness could not be called into question by the entourage, even if the person is unable to express his will.
In addition, these health professionals want to give themselves the time to organize a major regional debate. “The nursing profession has a duty to meet the legitimate expectations of the French and intends to get involved in the debate but above all to fully take its part in the essential reforms to be implemented,” explains Didier Borniche, President of the National Order of Nurses. Legalizing euthanasia is not, and should not be, the answer to the questions of the French. These are the changes in medical and social care and support that will make it possible to offer everyone a dignified and serene end of life in all cases where this is possible. “
Nursing ethics above all else
Finally, the report of the National Council insists on the profession’s attachment to the ethical rules of nurses. He recalls in particular that the goal of nursing care is respect for life and that the public health code specifies: “The nurse practices his profession with respect for life and for the human person. ”(Article R4312-2).
“This attachment to the ethics of their profession is clearly highlighted in the nurses’ responses to the survey in which we asked them to participate. Thus, it is for the profession the duty of continuity of care which takes precedence over any external consideration. Our proposals, particularly for improving pain management, aim to combine professional ethics and civic aspirations. », He concludes.
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