Nurse Ratched would approve.
Posted on 03/28/2005 3:52:07 PM PST by LauraJean
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2005
CONTACT: Joan Hurwitz, 301-628-5020 Cindy Price, 301-628-5038 Carol Cooke, 301-628-5027
American Nurses Association Statement on the Terri Schiavo Case Statement Attributed to Barbara A. Blakeney, MS, RN, President The Terri Schiavo case raises complex and emotional issues about the end of life. The American Nurses Association (ANA) recognizes the difficulty of the situation, however, ANA has consistently upheld the right of patients, or if the patient is incapacitated, the right of the designated surrogate, to decide whether to submit to or continue medical treatment.
As nurses, we are ethically bound to assist our patients in maintaining control over their lives and to help them preserve their dignity. The ANA believes that it is the responsibility of nurses to facilitate informed decision-making for patients and families who are making choices about end-of-life care. The Code of Ethics for Nurses specifically outlines the nurse's obligation to protect the patient's right to self-determination and the role of a designated surrogate in situations where the patient lacks capacity. In this case, Terri Schiavo's physicians, over many years, have declared her to be in a "persistent vegetative state." Furthermore, there is evidence that Terri Schiavo expressed her wishes not to have her life artificially maintained under such circumstances. ANA believes the Congress and the president have acted inappropriately in this case. It is unfortunate that Terri Schiavo has now become the symbol of so many political agendas.
The positive outcome from this case is that it raises the public's awareness of the importance of discussing end-of-life issues with family members and underscores how an advance directive, a living will and/or durable power of attorney for health care, clarifies and provides evidence of the wishes of an individual regarding end-of-life decisions. ANA encourages everyone to have an advance directive in place. Advance directives are controlled by state law and vary by state. A federal law, The Patient Self Determination Act of 1990, requires that most health care facilities provide patients with information about advance directives and ask patients about the existence of advance directives. Physicians, nurses, social workers and attorneys are often resource persons in the community who can provide information and guidance concerning advance directives.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Terri Schiavo. I recognize that this is an extremely difficult situation. I wish Terri Schiavo the dignity and peace she so deserves and that we would all wish for ourselves and our own loved ones at the end of life.
Sources: Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretative Statements, 2001 http://nursingworld.org/ethics/chcode.htm Ethics and Human Rights Position Statement: Nursing and the Patient Self-Determination Act, 1991 http://www.nursingworld.org/readroom/position/ethics/etsdet.htm
# # #
The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.7 million registered nurses through its 54 constituent member nurses associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. # # #
Return to Press Releases
Search Contact ANA Join/Renew Membership Members Only Online CE NursingInsiderSpecial Offersnursesbooks.org
© 2005 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved Copyright Policy | Privacy Statement
Is the ANA to nurses what the ALA is to librarians -- A liberal mouthpiece that doesn't necessarily reflect the views of its members?
Who would have thunk it?
Believe me this attempt to speak for all nurses is a farce.
More B.S.
Don't be surprised....
The national nursing organizations are notoriously left-leaning, just like the AMA.
The AMA's membership is low (as a percentage of Doctors)...I do not know the exact percentage, but I do know that no physician in my 20 member group belongs.
They may claim to represent 2.7 million nurses, but I'd be surprised if they had more than 2000 members nationwide. They are a joke. The only nurses I know who ever bothered to join their pathetic little group were on faculty somewhere.
Lotta meaningless words for "we are just following orders".
Mealy mouthed garbage like this is exactly why I pulled my membership to the ANA years ago. Patient advocate my foot, they are a liberal advocate.
I know some nurses and their view on Terri Schindler is consistent with this statement by the ANA. Be very afraid if you need medical care.
Oh, and excuse me, Nurse. When I want to know your politics, I'll ask you. Will you refuse to treat me, or give less than adequate care to a Republican?? Sheesh!
"Furthermore, there is evidence that Terri Schiavo expressed her wishes not to have her life artificially maintained under such circumstances."
The "evidence" is where the problem is. I think most people would agree that if Terri had left a living will, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Yes, Terri, who her husband and his attorney say is so "peaceful", so peaceful that she needs a morphine drip to ease her suffering. The suffering they said she wouldn't experience. Murderers.
Is the ANA to nurses what the ALA is to librarians -- A liberal mouthpiece that doesn't necessarily reflect the views of its members?
The ANA has been an embarrasement to nursing for more than twenty years.
LOL! Exactly!
Oh, and excuse me, Nurse. When I want to know your politics, I'll ask you
I would want to know if I were you...nurses hold lives in their hands.
Don't bank on it. Some hospitals are closed shops. The last hospital where I worked you paid dues even if you weren't a member. The Dues were taken out of you pay check and donated to the lefty charity of the hospital's choice if you weren't an ANA member. They have a lot of Nurses who are members that totally disagree and refuse to attend meetings or even vote.
well put
"Is the ANA to nurses what the ALA is to librarians"
YES
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.