A survey of ethical issues experienced by nurses caring for terminally ill elderly people

Abstract

This study examined the ethical issues experienced by nurses working in a small group of elderly persons' care settings in the UK, using a survey questionnaire previously used in other countries for examining the cultural aspects of ethical issues. However 'culture' relates not only to ethnicity but also the organizational culture in which care is delivered. Nurses working in elderly persons' care settings described a range of issues faced when caring for elderly terminally ill people, which illustrated the different needs of patients, relatives, professionals and society. These issues related to the unique needs of elderly people (such as dementia sufferers) and could have an impact on patients' quality of death.