If you are reading this, you are probably wondering what your role is with medical assistance in dying. What are nurses allowed and not allowed to do? What if you don’t agree with MAID? How should you care for the patient? The College of Nurses of Ontario answer these questions in their standard of care which can be found here.
Basically, RPNs and RNs are not able to administer the medications in anyway that are required for MAID – that is for the role of a nurse practitioner or a physician. RPNs and RNs can aid the NP or physician to provide the medical care needed for assistance in dying, only in accordance with the law.
Nursing duties when assisting with medical assistance in dying according to the CNO may include:
– educating the patient and their families
– inserting an IV line
– providing support to the patient and their families
What if I don’t support the process of MAID and/or have different beliefs or values?
Everyone has the right to choose to remove themselves from providing or participating in the process of MAID. This process is called conscientious objection or refusal. If this is you, here is what you need to know..
* You should speak with your employer about the situation and allow them enough time to find someone suitable for caring or the patient.
* You must continue to provide nursing care to the patient (that does not relate to MAID activities – such as the list above) until a replacement caregiver is found.
* It is important to remember to respect the patient’s wishes and not pass any judgements to them or their family.
It is important to care for the patient and to try to accommodate any cultural preferences that they may have. Caring for a patient who is choosing MAID should be carried out the same way that you would care for a patient during their end of life without assistance – up until the MAID process.
Reference:
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2018). Guidance on Nurses’ Role in Medical Assistance in Dying. Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41056-guidance-on-nurses-roles-in-maid.pdf
cultural competence in nursing 