Oncology Nurses’ Attitudes Regarding Voluntary, Physician-Assisted Dying for Competent, Terminally ill Patients

Oncology nurses’ attitudes about physician-assisted suicide for competent, terminally ill patients who request this assistance were explored. Questionnaires were sent to 2000 randomly selected members of the Oncology Nursing Society. Findings indicate that oncology nurses hold diverse views regarding the acceptability of physician-assisted suicide. Although many nurses favoured the practice, they also expressed a reluctance to administer the medication that would cause death. (28 refs.)