Question

A 43 year-old client with end stage ovarian cancer is admitted to the hospital with a bowel obstruction. The client in a tremendous amount of pain, states, 'please give me enough morphine to kill me.' The nurse's best response would be:

1)'I can't give you an overdose, but once you are discharged, you can do anything that you want.'
2)'I can see that you are in a lot of pain. Let me rub your back, too.'
3)'I am trying to understand what you are saying. Can you describe the pain? How intense is the pain? How do you help to relieve the pain?'
4)'All right, I can give you a little extra medication.'

Answer 1

The nurse's best response to the patient's request for a lethal dose of morphine is to show empathy and understanding by asking the patient to describe their pain, without agreeing to provide an overdose. Discussions of assisted su_icide and 'dying with dignity' are complex and regulated, and opioids must be used safely to manage pain.

Step-by-step explanation:

To a patient suffering from end-stage ovarian cancer who requests a lethal dose of morphine, the best response from a nurse would be option 3: 'I am trying to understand what you are saying. Can you describe the pain? How intense is the pain? How do you help to relieve the pain?' This response shows empathy and a willingness to assess the patient's pain, opening communication without agreeing to an unethical act such as euthanasia or assisted su_icide. It is essential to deal with such situations with sensitivity, understanding the ethical and legal boundaries of pain management, while also recognizing the individual's suffering.

Discussions surrounding end-of-life care, including physician-assisted su_icide and the concept of 'dying with dignity,' are controversial and highly regulated. Legislation such as the Death with Dignity Acts in certain states allows for terminally ill patients to make choices about their own end-of-life care, which includes the potential for physician-assisted s_uicide under strict criteria. However, even with this legislation, healthcare professionals must abide by legal and ethical standards that prioritize the patient's well-being and do not hasten death.

The use of opioids like morphine and oxycodone to manage severe pain is common, yet it carries risks including addiction and life-threatening overdose if not closely monitored. Healthcare professionals should provide adequate pain relief within safe and appropriate boundaries and always under medical supervision, accounting for the need to avoid both undertreatment of pain and the risk of abuse or unintentional harm.