Awareness objection among health personnel in the face of the patient’s anticipated will: reflections on a dignified death

Abstract

The present study aims to motivate health personnel to reflecting on the Awareness Objection in the face of the patient´s Anticipated Will. The issue is addressed analyzing, in a first moment, the concepts of Awareness Objection and  Anticipated Will, the background of Awareness Objection, the ethical values derived from the autonomy of the individual awareness, the legal aspects related to the Awareness Objection, and a dignified death. In a second moment, aspects such as the fundamental human rights, the objection and conflict, the decision making in medical and nursing practice – particularly within the contexts of terminal patients who, among other, could be in coma or an irreversible suffering state, are analyzed. The study concludes with reflections on life and death, and the possibility to intervene with advanced methods and technologies in order to prolong or terminate life. In the practice of nursing, all of these reflections are necessary under the consideration of strict respect and protection to the rights and dignity of the patients.