Before going through all of the information for our class covering death with dignity, I had a good understanding of what the process was. I knew that the patient who wanted to die with dignity had to go through long process and that in the end, it would be them ultimately pushing the medication to end their life. However, they had to ask a provider to give the medication that would end their life. I think that this process is a good option for patients to have if they are suffering and if they have no other treatment options available. I think that instead of suffering, the individual should be able to make the choice to die with dignity so that they aren’t suffering and the people around them are not suffering either.

After reading the information that was provided during this class, my view point and general understanding of the process has stayed the same. I believe that patients should have the right to choose this, but I think it is hard for providers to make this choice where they are supposed to do no harm. Although, I think this does raise the question of whether or not the providers are doing less harm providing the medication than they would be to withhold it and let the patient suffer. Where providers, including nurses, are supposed to protect the patients safety, is it safe for them to suffer and possibly find other ways to do the same thing? Or is it better for them to help the patient in a way they know will be safe and efficient? I believe that allowing the patient to choose death with dignity is safer and doing less harm than denying them and having them suffer or find alternative ways to end their own life.