Norwegian nurses' perceptions of assisted dying requests from terminally ill patients : a qualitative interview study

Abstract

This study explores the perceptions of Norwegian nurses who have receivedassisted dying requests from terminally ill patients. Assisted dying is illegal inNorway, while in some countries, it is an option. Nurses caring for terminally illpatients may experience ethical challenges by receiving requests for euthanasia andassisted suicide. We applied a qualitative research design with a phenomenologicalhermeneutic approach using open individual interviews. A total of 15 registerednurses employed in pulmonary and oncology wards of three university hospitals andhome care in one municipality were recruited. Four themes emerged from theanalysis: (1) unprepared for the request; (2) meeting direct, indirect, and nonverbalrequests; (3) working in a gray zone, and (4) feeling alone and powerless. The studyfound that nurses were unsure how to handle such requests due to professionaluncertainty about assisted dying. Working in an environment where the topic istaboo made nurses morally uncertain, and some perceived this as moral distress. Thehospital chaplain played a significant role in providing support to these nurses. Keywords: assisted dying requests, ethical challenge, interviews, moral distress, moral uncertainty, nurses'experiences, phenomenological hermeneutic design