Having been a critical care nurse for many years and sometimes as a care-giver the events of end of life acts played out in my hands. It was so apparent in some cases that death was the only alternative to what the patient’s view of their situation tells themselves. A successful 95 yr old whose life now was grossly debilitated made it apparent she wanted death and asked me to help. By this time in my career this has happened a few times to settle to a professional training rd of no killing. As much as I wanted to free her as she was a favorite pt. I could only offer her morphine which had various boxes of. She refused as it would alter her mind. She could no longer be Elsie. Her life of hard and smart work from Zero to a million could not be touched. She figured it out on her own letting me know when and I could not ever see her again. I said no because my goal was to keep seeing her. Questioned asked & answered.
To unsuccessfully commicate the role of a death merchant for her comfort is the rule to base our souls upon morality for God’s way I can not take a life.
Nurse Watchdogs of Arizona 