If a patient asks to remove oxygen because they wish to die, which is the appropriate nursing response?

• A. Refuse the patient and encourage him to verbalize his feelings
• B. Follow the patient because it is his right to die gracefully
• C. Refuse the patient since euthanasia is not accepted in the Philippines
• D. Follow the patient as it is his right to determine the medical regimen he needs

Answer: (A)

When someone expresses a wish to die by stopping a life-sustaining treatment, the priority is to protect the patient’s life while exploring the distress behind the request. The best response is to refuse to remove the oxygen—so you do not aid self-harm—and invite the patient to talk about what they’re feeling. Acknowledge their pain, fear, or hopelessness and encourage them to verbalize these thoughts. This opens the door to assess for depression, physical discomfort, spiritual or existential distress, and to address any immediate safety concerns. It also signals that you take their feelings seriously while staying with them in a supportive, nonjudgmental way. Involve the physician and, if appropriate, palliative care or mental health professionals to discuss goals of care, comfort measures, and next steps. Other approaches that suggest yielding to the request or focusing only on legal or rights considerations miss the essential step of addressing the patient's suffering and safeguarding their life.