Ethical Decision-Making in End-of-Life care for Gender-Diverse Individuals: Challenges in Professional Nursing Management
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Abstract
Ethical decision-making is one of the critical challenges faced by professional nurses, particularly in providing end-of-life care for gender-diverse individuals. These patients often encounter barriers related to legal, cultural, and social acceptance. This article aims to analyze the complexities of ethical decision-making for nurses caring for gender-diverse individuals at the end of life, focusing on the application of ethical theories and frameworks, such as deontological ethics, moral development theory, and the ethical tree framework. The process involves five steps: information gathering, identifying ethical dilemmas, evaluating alternatives, decision-making, and outcome assessment.
The study highlights the importance of respecting patients’ gender identity, recognizing their unique needs, and aligning nursing practices with contemporary contexts. Practical recommendations include promoting advance directives, educating nurses about the legal rights and end-of-life care considerations for gender-diverse individuals, and establishing support systems to facilitate appropriate ethical decision-making.
In summary, addressing the challenges of ethical decision-making in caring for gender-diverse individuals at the end of life is a significant responsibility for professional nurses. It requires both knowledge and skills to deliver personalized care, reduce disparities, and enhance patients’ quality of life. This approach ensures dignity, the safe expression of gender identity, autonomy in decision-making alongside families, and effective responses to the rapidly evolving societal context surrounding end-of-life care
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
ลิขสิทธิ์ของบทความที่ตีพิมพ์เป็นของวารสารพยาบาลศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย ทั้งฉบับตีพิมพ์เป็นรูปเล่มและเอกสารออนไลน์
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