The Emerging Role of Nurse Practitioners in Physician-assisted Death

This article explores the role of the nurse practitioner (NP) and raises the awareness of the potential for NPs to be called on to participate in physician-assisted death. This article identifies the ethical and legal dilemmas that NPs may face when dealing with patients who have requested physician-assisted death. The article further defines the ethical and legal responsibilities of the NP who cares for patients requesting physician-assisted death and provides recommendations if future legislation allows NP involvement in the physician-assisted death process.