Nursing students' perceptions of euthanasia legislation: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Spain passed a law to legalise euthanasia in March 2021. This law introduces a new right that is incorporated into the portfolio of services provided by the Spanish public health system, meaning that nurses and nursing students will play a key role in its administration. Objectives: To determine and understand nursing students' perceptions of the legalisation of euthanasia and the life experiences involved in their positions. Design: This is a descriptive qualitative study. Settings and participants: Thirteen semi-structured, open-ended, focused interviews were conducted with undergraduate nursing students at two faculties in south-eastern Spain. The Atlas ti.9.0 programme was used to analyse their discourses. Results: There are students who are in favour of euthanasia and those who are against it. Most students viewed the regulation of conscientious objection as positive and necessary. Students reported that they did not have indepth knowledge of the law, and those who were familiar with it expressed some misgivings. Students also felt that there was a lack of information and training on the management of euthanasia. Conclusions: The students described the legalisation of euthanasia as a breakthrough in Spanish public health which will benefit many patients. However, they were aware that they are not capable of facing new legal situation and demanded extra training in ethical conflicts at the end of life to avoid potential psychological sequelae. Nursing faculties should include in their curricula spaces to encourage moral deliberation in complex settings involving the implementation of euthanasia.