Marcia Bosek D.N.Sc., RN, collaborated on two studies released by the American Nurses Association’s Center For Ethics and Human Rights and the University of California San Diego Health that include the perspectives of more than 2,374 nurses in the United States on Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD).
The research explores nurses’ values, perceptions, and perspectives on MAiD and demonstrates a need for more guidance on the expectations of the nurse’s role to provide competent and quality care where MAiD is legalized.
“Nurse respondents to the study held concerns about the process, policy, potential psychological harm, legal risk, and the need to learn more about MAiD,” said Bosek, an associate professor and registered nurse. The findings suggest that nurse educators should assist nursing students to understand both their personal and professional values related to the subject, added Bosek.
“Organizations in states where MAiD is a legal option need to assist nurses to understand MAiD and carefully construct policy/standards to minimize conflict, moral distress, and psychological harm amongst nurses,” said Bosek.
MAiD is currently legal in 10 states including Vermont, plus Washington D.C., and legislation is pending in Connecticut, Arizona, and Massachusetts.
Bosek was part of the team that drafted the 2019 American Nurses Association (ANA) position statement, The Nurse’s Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying, which addresses the growing ethical questions and challenges that nurses face when responding to a patient’s request for MAiD.
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