Before reading and watching the provided resources, my thoughts about death with dignity was that it was a patient’s choice to end their life. This can be a patient’s choice when they feel that they have nothing else that will help improve their life. I feel like this gives the patient more control over the end of their life when they feel that they have lost all control in every other aspect. This allows the patient to live their last bit of life to the fullest and when they are ready, they can choose to end it. I feel like this allows the patient to have one last victory and that they get the final say and not some terminal illness. This can give the patient the opportunity to prepare for end of life and say any final goodbyes.

When reading this second question I immediately thought of one of the videos, which stated that the doctor/ provider is not killing the patient because the patient is choosing to end their life. It is definitely hard to think of allowing a patient to die in your care because that’s not what we are taught as nurses. We provide care to the patient no matter what because that is what we are supposed to do. However, if a patient is suffering and no procedures, medications, or therapy is helping then that’s when I think the patient should make the choice about end of life. If we are providing care for a patient and it’s not benefitting the patient, then we are doing harm because we are compromising their quality of life. I think nonmaleficence is doing no harm, but also improving the quality of life. At the end of the day, we must do what’s best for our patient and advocate for their needs no matter what they may be.