It is crucial that the issue of advance directives and the issue of euthanasia not be confused. ... Euthanasia is largely illegal. ... For example, the advance directive may suggest one course of care, while the physician and/or family believe the patient would in fact have wanted something else. ... Some believe that discussing advance directives upon admission to a health care facility is yet another factor. ...

• Word Count: 2107
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The principle of respect for autonomy does not apply to people not in a position to act in an autonomous manner. This means that infants, suicidal people, and drug-dependent patients may be validly controlled on the grounds of beneficence to protect them from harm.1 Under the principle of beneficence, the nurse may legitimately restrain a patient from exercising his or her autonomy by trying to jump out a window.3 But people judged mentally incompetent are still capable of making autonomous choices about what they want to eat or what clothes they wish to wear.1 Constraint of a person'...

• Word Count: 2553
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate