Responsabilidad de la enfermera en situaciones de limitación de tratamiento

Abstract

There are many and constant efforts by the health area to increase the life expectancy of humans, recent data reveal that the life expectancy at birth is 77.9 years (Ministry of Health of Chile, 2008). Many of the people requiring care in these highly complex services are at limiting terminally ill treatment, becoming a stressor, and not only distressing for the patient but also to their family and community. The nurse is vital in this stage for the various management areas involved in our discipline. It is necessary to reflect on the importance of nurse participation in situations of limitation of treatment, frequent events, especially in intensive care units. Analyzes some ethical and legal aspects of medical and nursing practice, this will answer some questions about the clarity of the role of the nurse, making possible interventions, ending with a discussion of ethical principles treatmentlimiting situations.