<p>The question of euthanasia has kept pre-occupying and agitating the minds of thinkers, sweeping the globe, pummelling pedagogy, assailing assumptions, and bludgeoning biases. Both the moralist, ethicist, theologian, psychologist, educationist, anthropologist, politician, physician, patient as well as the common man in the street are interested in it. This pervading interest simply arises out of the fact that euthanasia involves the question of life, and life is something that is a common denominator to all men.</p><p>The controversy hinges on the fact that, there are divergent views on the moral question of euthanasia. While some would unflinchingly opt for euthanasia others would prefer to oppose it to the best of their strength, yet others will remain agnostic about it. But the issue here remains: is euthanasia in any way morally justified? Has human life an intrinsic value? Or is human life valuable only when it is healthy? Are we the ones who decide when to die? Has the physician any right to either assist or terminate the life of the patient simply on account of suffering? Has the patient any right to end his/her life? Are there some conditions in which euthanasia could be allowed? Is suffering meaningless?</p><p>The topic of my project is: THE MORALITY OF EUTHANASIA IN THE LIGHT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S TEACHING. In this work, I shall present the official Catholic Church’s teaching and position on euthanasia, and also, avow the different arguments proposed by the proponents of euthanasia. I will use the church’s stand, as a foundation for a critical analysis of those who support Euthanasia. And finally a will make a critique of the church’s stand in my evaluation and conclusion.</p>

<p>Suffering from a terminal illness, or being chronically sick or severely disabled is not pleasant, which most of us will never experience life like this. However, there are people who are living in precisely that kind of constant, excruciating pain, agony and misery, 24 hours of the day, 365 days a year, stuck in a “living Hell” with no way of ending their enforced but unwanted torment – other than the highly controversial ‘therapy’ of euthanasia.</p><p>Those of us who are relatively healthy have a choice in how and when we end our lives. We can decide to wait until our life ends naturally, or we can speed up the process by committing suicide in whatever manner we choose. But, because of their illness or disability, the patients discussed in this thesis are being denied that same choice – because they must ask for help to die, they have had their right to decide matters such as when, where and how to go, for themselves taken away from them by people who believe that they know better than the patient what is best for them.</p><p>In Chapter 1, I will clarify some of the many, often contradicting, definitions and ideas associated with euthanasia.</p><p>In Chapter 2, because death is a very personal subject and everyone has different reasons why they want to die, I have used extracts from two very personal letters explaining why they sought euthanasia.</p><p>In Chapter 3, I will show how a patient considering euthanasia can use two Ends and Means arguments (Utilitarianism and Deontology) to decide if killing themselves would be the moral course of action to end their suffering. I will also discuss the morality of euthanasia eastern and western society.</p><p>In Chapter 4, the discussion turns to who would be the best person to help the patient die. I will examine how euthanasia can comply with various professional and personal codes of conduct and discuss the ideal character of the would-be euthaniser.</p><p>In Chapter 5 (the final chapter) I will conclude by using the information from the previous chapters to answer two important questions:</p><p>1. Whether it is ethical for a patient to even be thinking about euthanasia in the first place.</p><p>2. Who is (ethically) the best person to ask to kill the patient</p><p>This thesis is not about whether or not euthanasia should be legalised (as I will explain – euthanasia is already going on, albeit illegally) but to discuss the morality of asking someone else to go against all matter of strictly enforced and deeply ingrained legal, moral and professional rules imposed by society in order to help the patient die.</p>

<p>Eutanasi, eller den svenska översättningen dödshjälp, innebäratt vårdpersonal genom olika åtgärder påskyndar döendet hossvårt sjuka patienter. Aktiv dödshjälp är olagligt i Sverigeliksom i flertalet andra länder. Samtidigt är det inte ovanligtatt patienter efterfrågar eutanasi med hänvisning till att dödendärigenom kan bli mer stilla och fri från lidande. Genom sinnära kontakt med patienten har sjuksköterskan en given roll idet som här kallas eutanasiprocessen. Syftet med litteraturstudienvar att beskriva sjuksköterskans delaktighet i eutanasiprocessen.Utifrån riktlinjerna för en litteraturstudie i Friberg(2008) har 11 artiklar granskats. Artiklarna söktes i databasernaCinahl, PubMed och Academic Search Elit. Resultatetpresenterades i teman vilka var; att ta emot frågan, attdelta vid ELD, att vara delaktig i den aktiva handlingen, attvara ett stöd för anhöriga efteråt och att uppleva delaktighetensom sjuksköterska. Det visade sig att det fanns flertaletfaktorer som påverkade sjuksköterskans medverkan i eutanasiprocessen.De sjuksköterskor som deltog i beslut om dödshjälpdeltog för det mesta också i den aktiva handlingen viddödshjälp samt i eftervården av anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornauppfattade det som viktigt att ha ett nära och bra samarbete iarbetsgruppen. Slutsatsen är att sjuksköterskan har en viktigroll i vården om patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Det ärviktigt att det finns klara och tydliga riktlinjer och regler attfölja för att säkerställa omvårdnaden vid situationer som dessa.Det behövs även tydliga instruktioner och handledning avnya sjuksköterskor för att de skall förberedas för möte medpatienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Ytterligare forskning inomområdet kan bidra till en utveckling av vården som då bättrekan möta patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi.Eutanasi, eller den svenska översättningen dödshjälp, innebäratt vårdpersonal genom olika åtgärder påskyndar döendet hossvårt sjuka patienter. Aktiv dödshjälp är olagligt i Sverigeliksom i flertalet andra länder. Samtidigt är det inte ovanligtatt patienter efterfrågar eutanasi med hänvisning till att dödendärigenom kan bli mer stilla och fri från lidande. Genom sinnära kontakt med patienten har sjuksköterskan en given roll idet som här kallas eutanasiprocessen. Syftet med litteraturstudienvar att beskriva sjuksköterskans delaktighet i eutanasiprocessen.Utifrån riktlinjerna för en litteraturstudie i Friberg(2008) har 11 artiklar granskats. Artiklarna söktes i databasernaCinahl, PubMed och Academic Search Elit. Resultatetpresenterades i teman vilka var; att ta emot frågan, attdelta vid ELD, att vara delaktig i den aktiva handlingen, attvara ett stöd för anhöriga efteråt och att uppleva delaktighetensom sjuksköterska. Det visade sig att det fanns flertaletfaktorer som påverkade sjuksköterskans medverkan i eutanasiprocessen.De sjuksköterskor som deltog i beslut om dödshjälpdeltog för det mesta också i den aktiva handlingen viddödshjälp samt i eftervården av anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornauppfattade det som viktigt att ha ett nära och bra samarbete iarbetsgruppen. Slutsatsen är att sjuksköterskan har en viktigroll i vården om patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Det ärviktigt att det finns klara och tydliga riktlinjer och regler attfölja för att säkerställa omvårdnaden vid situationer som dessa.Det behövs även tydliga instruktioner och handledning avnya sjuksköterskor för att de skall förberedas för möte medpatienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Ytterligare forskning inomområdet kan bidra till en utveckling av vården som då bättrekan möta patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi.</p> / <p>Euthanasia means that a health professional through variousmeasures accelerates dying in severely ill patients. Euthanasiais illegal in Sweden as in most other countries. While it´snot uncommon for patients requesting euthanasia on thegrounds that death thus can be more quiet and free from suffering.Through their close contact with the patient nurse hasa specific role in the euthanasia process. The aim of thisstudy was to describe nurses' involvement in the euthanasiaprocess. Based on the guidelines for a literature review ofFriberg (2008) 11 articles has been reviewed. Articles weresearched in the databases Cinahl, PubMed and AcademicSearch Elite. The results presented in themes which were, toreceive the question, to participate in the end of life decisions,to be involved in the active process, to provide supportfor relatives afterwards and to experience the involvement asa nurse. It turned out that there were several factors that influencednurses' participation in the euthanasia process. Thenurses who participated in decisions on euthanasia were forthe most part also in the active process of euthanasia and inthe aftercare of relatives. The nurses felt that it was importantto have close and good cooperation of the working team.The conclusion is that the nurse has an important role in thecare of patients seeking euthanasia. It is important to haveclear guidelines and rules to follow to ensure nursing care insituations like these. There is also need for guidelines and introductionof new nurses so that they can be prepared to meetpatients who requests euthanasia. Further research on euthanasiacan contribute to the development sot that the caregiversbetter can meet the patients requesting euthanasia.Euthanasia means that a health professional through variousmeasures accelerates dying in severely ill patients. Euthanasiais illegal in Sweden as in most other countries. While it´snot uncommon for patients requesting euthanasia on thegrounds that death thus can be more quiet and free from suffering.Through their close contact with the patient nurse hasa specific role in the euthanasia process. The aim of thisstudy was to describe nurses' involvement in the euthanasiaprocess. Based on the guidelines for a literature review ofFriberg (2008) 11 articles has been reviewed. Articles weresearched in the databases Cinahl, PubMed and AcademicSearch Elite. The results presented in themes which were, toreceive the question, to participate in the end of life decisions,to be involved in the active process, to provide supportfor relatives afterwards and to experience the involvement asa nurse. It turned out that there were several factors that influencednurses' participation in the euthanasia process. Thenurses who participated in decisions on euthanasia were forthe most part also in the active process of euthanasia and inthe aftercare of relatives. The nurses felt that it was importantto have close and good cooperation of the working team.The conclusion is that the nurse has an important role in thecare of patients seeking euthanasia. It is important to haveclear guidelines and rules to follow to ensure nursing care insituations like these. There is also need for guidelines and introductionof new nurses so that they can be prepared to meetpatients who requests euthanasia. Further research on euthanasiacan contribute to the development sot that the caregiversbetter can meet the patients requesting euthanasia.</p>

<p>Bakgrund. Ordet eutanasi betyder dödshjälp och detta ämne väcker stor debatt världen över. Holland, Belgien, Luxemburg och delstaten Oregon i USA har legaliserat eutanasi. Riktlinjer som beskriver sjuksköterskors roll i eutanasiprocessen har utformats, dock syns stora skillnader länderna emellan. Syfte. Att belysa sjuksköterskors upplevelse av delaktigheten i eutanasiprocessen, samt hur omvårdnaden av patienten såg ut under denna process. Metod. En allmän litteraturstudie utfördes med induktiv innehållsanalys. Resultat. Studien belyser flera aspekter av sjuksköterskors upplevelser kring omvårdnaden av patienter under eutanasiprocessen. Kategorierna visar sjuksköterskors reaktioner på eutanasiförfrågan, vikten av ett gott samtal mellan patient och sjuksköterska, hur sjuksköterskor vårdar patienten under processen som leder fram till eutanasi samt hur hon finns som stöd för patienten och agerar patientens ”advokat”. Det framkom att sjuksköterskor åsidosätter sina egna åsikter om eutanasi och ställer upp för patienten samt hur de finner stöd i kollegor för att klara av den psykiskt påfrestande uppgift som eutanasiprocessen innebär. Slutsats. I flera studier anser sjuksköterskor det svårt att ge patienten bästa omvårdnad då riktlinjer som beskriver deras arbetsuppgifter under eutanasiprocessen är bristfälliga.</p> / <p>Background. Euthanasia can be translated into the meaning of helping a person to end his/her life. Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the State of Oregon (USA) have legalized euthanasia. Guidelines describing the nurses’ role in the process of euthanasia exists, though great differences can be seen between countries. Aim. To illuminate the nurses’ perception on their involvement in the euthanasiaprocess and what the care during this process looked like. Method. A general review of qualitative literature was conducted with analysis of the articles. Result. This study showed the nurses’ first reaction to the euthanasia request, the importance of in-depth conversations between the patient and the nurse, the nurses’ care for the patient during the process, how they stood by their patients’ side at all times and sometimes acted the role of the patients’ lawyer. This study raised issues about how nurses’ sometimes sat their negative thoughts about euthanasia aside to care for the patient and how they found support and comfort in their colleagues. Conclusion. Many nurses feel they cannot give the patient proper care due to failing guidelines describing their tasks during the euthanasia process.</p>

The two most controversial ends of life decisions are those in which physicians help patients take their lives and when the physician deliberately and directly intervenes to end the patients’ life upon his request. These are often referred to as voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide have continued to be controversial public issues. This controversy has agitated the minds of great thinkers including ethicians, physicians, psychologists, moralists, philosophers even the patient himself. Hence the physician, patient, the public and policy makers have recently had to face several difficult questions. Is it morally right to end the life of the patients? Is there any moral difference at all between Voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide? Should a terminally ill patient be allowed to take his life and should the medical profession have the option of helping the patient die. Should voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide be legalised at all? And what actually will be the legal and moral implications if they are allowed. In a bid to find a lasting solution to these moral problems and questions has led to two different strong positions viz opponents and proponents of voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. The centre of my argument in this work is not to develop new general arguments for or against voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide but to make a critical ethical comparative analysis of voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. This is the focus of my work. The sole aim of this work is neither to solely condemn nor to support voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide but to critically analyze the two since we live in a world of pluralism.

The question of euthanasia has kept pre-occupying and agitating the minds of thinkers, sweeping the globe, pummelling pedagogy, assailing assumptions, and bludgeoning biases. Both the moralist, ethicist, theologian, psychologist, educationist, anthropologist, politician, physician, patient as well as the common man in the street are interested in it. This pervading interest simply arises out of the fact that euthanasia involves the question of life, and life is something that is a common denominator to all men. The controversy hinges on the fact that, there are divergent views on the moral question of euthanasia. While some would unflinchingly opt for euthanasia others would prefer to oppose it to the best of their strength, yet others will remain agnostic about it. But the issue here remains: is euthanasia in any way morally justified? Has human life an intrinsic value? Or is human life valuable only when it is healthy? Are we the ones who decide when to die? Has the physician any right to either assist or terminate the life of the patient simply on account of suffering? Has the patient any right to end his/her life? Are there some conditions in which euthanasia could be allowed? Is suffering meaningless? The topic of my project is: THE MORALITY OF EUTHANASIA IN THE LIGHT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S TEACHING. In this work, I shall present the official Catholic Church’s teaching and position on euthanasia, and also, avow the different arguments proposed by the proponents of euthanasia. I will use the church’s stand, as a foundation for a critical analysis of those who support Euthanasia. And finally a will make a critique of the church’s stand in my evaluation and conclusion.

Suffering from a terminal illness, or being chronically sick or severely disabled is not pleasant, which most of us will never experience life like this. However, there are people who are living in precisely that kind of constant, excruciating pain, agony and misery, 24 hours of the day, 365 days a year, stuck in a “living Hell” with no way of ending their enforced but unwanted torment – other than the highly controversial ‘therapy’ of euthanasia. Those of us who are relatively healthy have a choice in how and when we end our lives. We can decide to wait until our life ends naturally, or we can speed up the process by committing suicide in whatever manner we choose. But, because of their illness or disability, the patients discussed in this thesis are being denied that same choice – because they must ask for help to die, they have had their right to decide matters such as when, where and how to go, for themselves taken away from them by people who believe that they know better than the patient what is best for them. In Chapter 1, I will clarify some of the many, often contradicting, definitions and ideas associated with euthanasia. In Chapter 2, because death is a very personal subject and everyone has different reasons why they want to die, I have used extracts from two very personal letters explaining why they sought euthanasia. In Chapter 3, I will show how a patient considering euthanasia can use two Ends and Means arguments (Utilitarianism and Deontology) to decide if killing themselves would be the moral course of action to end their suffering. I will also discuss the morality of euthanasia eastern and western society. In Chapter 4, the discussion turns to who would be the best person to help the patient die. I will examine how euthanasia can comply with various professional and personal codes of conduct and discuss the ideal character of the would-be euthaniser. In Chapter 5 (the final chapter) I will conclude by using the information from the previous chapters to answer two important questions: 1. Whether it is ethical for a patient to even be thinking about euthanasia in the first place. 2. Who is (ethically) the best person to ask to kill the patient This thesis is not about whether or not euthanasia should be legalised (as I will explain – euthanasia is already going on, albeit illegally) but to discuss the morality of asking someone else to go against all matter of strictly enforced and deeply ingrained legal, moral and professional rules imposed by society in order to help the patient die.

<p>It is not possible in this paper to deal with all the moral problems revolving at the &ldquo / beginning&rdquo / and &ldquo / end&rdquo / of human life in the modern world. However, something must be said about the question regarding respect for human life vis-&agrave / -vis abortion and euthanasia, since they are widely discussed today and since they strike at the very heart of traditional morality. The dignity and worth of individual life cannot be derived from analysis of individual life itself. Humanity is not the measure of all things. Whatever value human beings have is strictly transitory unless it is in our relationship to some ultimate source of value outside us. Christian faith understands human value as being established by our relationship with God - a relationship created and given by God himself. It is because we have our being from God and are sustained by God that we can meaningfully affirm the value of individual human life.</p>

Eutanasi, eller den svenska översättningen dödshjälp, innebäratt vårdpersonal genom olika åtgärder påskyndar döendet hossvårt sjuka patienter. Aktiv dödshjälp är olagligt i Sverigeliksom i flertalet andra länder. Samtidigt är det inte ovanligtatt patienter efterfrågar eutanasi med hänvisning till att dödendärigenom kan bli mer stilla och fri från lidande. Genom sinnära kontakt med patienten har sjuksköterskan en given roll idet som här kallas eutanasiprocessen. Syftet med litteraturstudienvar att beskriva sjuksköterskans delaktighet i eutanasiprocessen.Utifrån riktlinjerna för en litteraturstudie i Friberg(2008) har 11 artiklar granskats. Artiklarna söktes i databasernaCinahl, PubMed och Academic Search Elit. Resultatetpresenterades i teman vilka var; att ta emot frågan, attdelta vid ELD, att vara delaktig i den aktiva handlingen, attvara ett stöd för anhöriga efteråt och att uppleva delaktighetensom sjuksköterska. Det visade sig att det fanns flertaletfaktorer som påverkade sjuksköterskans medverkan i eutanasiprocessen.De sjuksköterskor som deltog i beslut om dödshjälpdeltog för det mesta också i den aktiva handlingen viddödshjälp samt i eftervården av anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornauppfattade det som viktigt att ha ett nära och bra samarbete iarbetsgruppen. Slutsatsen är att sjuksköterskan har en viktigroll i vården om patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Det ärviktigt att det finns klara och tydliga riktlinjer och regler attfölja för att säkerställa omvårdnaden vid situationer som dessa.Det behövs även tydliga instruktioner och handledning avnya sjuksköterskor för att de skall förberedas för möte medpatienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Ytterligare forskning inomområdet kan bidra till en utveckling av vården som då bättrekan möta patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi.Eutanasi, eller den svenska översättningen dödshjälp, innebäratt vårdpersonal genom olika åtgärder påskyndar döendet hossvårt sjuka patienter. Aktiv dödshjälp är olagligt i Sverigeliksom i flertalet andra länder. Samtidigt är det inte ovanligtatt patienter efterfrågar eutanasi med hänvisning till att dödendärigenom kan bli mer stilla och fri från lidande. Genom sinnära kontakt med patienten har sjuksköterskan en given roll idet som här kallas eutanasiprocessen. Syftet med litteraturstudienvar att beskriva sjuksköterskans delaktighet i eutanasiprocessen.Utifrån riktlinjerna för en litteraturstudie i Friberg(2008) har 11 artiklar granskats. Artiklarna söktes i databasernaCinahl, PubMed och Academic Search Elit. Resultatetpresenterades i teman vilka var; att ta emot frågan, attdelta vid ELD, att vara delaktig i den aktiva handlingen, attvara ett stöd för anhöriga efteråt och att uppleva delaktighetensom sjuksköterska. Det visade sig att det fanns flertaletfaktorer som påverkade sjuksköterskans medverkan i eutanasiprocessen.De sjuksköterskor som deltog i beslut om dödshjälpdeltog för det mesta också i den aktiva handlingen viddödshjälp samt i eftervården av anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornauppfattade det som viktigt att ha ett nära och bra samarbete iarbetsgruppen. Slutsatsen är att sjuksköterskan har en viktigroll i vården om patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Det ärviktigt att det finns klara och tydliga riktlinjer och regler attfölja för att säkerställa omvårdnaden vid situationer som dessa.Det behövs även tydliga instruktioner och handledning avnya sjuksköterskor för att de skall förberedas för möte medpatienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Ytterligare forskning inomområdet kan bidra till en utveckling av vården som då bättrekan möta patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. / Euthanasia means that a health professional through variousmeasures accelerates dying in severely ill patients. Euthanasiais illegal in Sweden as in most other countries. While it´snot uncommon for patients requesting euthanasia on thegrounds that death thus can be more quiet and free from suffering.Through their close contact with the patient nurse hasa specific role in the euthanasia process. The aim of thisstudy was to describe nurses' involvement in the euthanasiaprocess. Based on the guidelines for a literature review ofFriberg (2008) 11 articles has been reviewed. Articles weresearched in the databases Cinahl, PubMed and AcademicSearch Elite. The results presented in themes which were, toreceive the question, to participate in the end of life decisions,to be involved in the active process, to provide supportfor relatives afterwards and to experience the involvement asa nurse. It turned out that there were several factors that influencednurses' participation in the euthanasia process. Thenurses who participated in decisions on euthanasia were forthe most part also in the active process of euthanasia and inthe aftercare of relatives. The nurses felt that it was importantto have close and good cooperation of the working team.The conclusion is that the nurse has an important role in thecare of patients seeking euthanasia. It is important to haveclear guidelines and rules to follow to ensure nursing care insituations like these. There is also need for guidelines and introductionof new nurses so that they can be prepared to meetpatients who requests euthanasia. Further research on euthanasiacan contribute to the development sot that the caregiversbetter can meet the patients requesting euthanasia.Euthanasia means that a health professional through variousmeasures accelerates dying in severely ill patients. Euthanasiais illegal in Sweden as in most other countries. While it´snot uncommon for patients requesting euthanasia on thegrounds that death thus can be more quiet and free from suffering.Through their close contact with the patient nurse hasa specific role in the euthanasia process. The aim of thisstudy was to describe nurses' involvement in the euthanasiaprocess. Based on the guidelines for a literature review ofFriberg (2008) 11 articles has been reviewed. Articles weresearched in the databases Cinahl, PubMed and AcademicSearch Elite. The results presented in themes which were, toreceive the question, to participate in the end of life decisions,to be involved in the active process, to provide supportfor relatives afterwards and to experience the involvement asa nurse. It turned out that there were several factors that influencednurses' participation in the euthanasia process. Thenurses who participated in decisions on euthanasia were forthe most part also in the active process of euthanasia and inthe aftercare of relatives. The nurses felt that it was importantto have close and good cooperation of the working team.The conclusion is that the nurse has an important role in thecare of patients seeking euthanasia. It is important to haveclear guidelines and rules to follow to ensure nursing care insituations like these. There is also need for guidelines and introductionof new nurses so that they can be prepared to meetpatients who requests euthanasia. Further research on euthanasiacan contribute to the development sot that the caregiversbetter can meet the patients requesting euthanasia.

Under the Nazi regime in Germany (1933-1945) a calculated killing of chronic “mentally ill” patients took place that was part of a large biopolitical program using well-established, contemporary scientific standards on the understanding of eugenics. Nearly 300,000 patients were assassinated during this period. Nurses executed this program through their everyday practice. However, suspicions have been raised that psychiatric patients were already assassinated before and after the Nazi regime, suggesting that the motives for these killings must be investigated within psychiatric practice itself. My research aims to highlight the mechanisms and scientific discourses in place that allowed nurses to perceive patients as unworthy of life, and thus able to be killed. Using Foucauldian concepts of “biopower” and “State racism,” this discourse analysis is carried out on several levels. First, it analyzes nursing notes in one specific patient record and interprets them in relation to the kinds of scientific discourses that are identified, for example, in nursing journals between 1900 and 1945. Second, it argues that records are not static but rather produce certain effects; they are “performative” because they are active agents. Psychiatry, with its need to make patients completely visible and its desire to maintain its dominance in the psychiatric field, requires the utilization of writing in order to register everything that happens to individuals, everything they do and everything they talk about. Furthermore, writing enables nurses to pass along information from the “bottom-up,” and written documents allow all information to be accessible at any time. It is a method of centralizing information and of coordinating different levels within disciplinary systems. By following this approach it is possible to demonstrate that the production of meaning within nurses’ notes is not based on the intentionality of the writer but rather depends on discursive patterns constructed by contemporary scientific discourses. Using a form of “institutional ethnography,” the study analyzes documents as “inscriptions” that actively interven in interactions in institutions and that create a specific reality on their own accord. The question is not whether the reality represented within the documents is true, but rather how documents worked in institutions and what their effects were. Third, the study demonstrates how nurses were actively involved in the construction of patients’ identities and how these “documentary identities” led to the death of thousands of humans whose lives were considered to be “unworthy lives.” Documents are able to constitute the identities of psychiatric patients and, conversely, are able to deconstruct them. The result of de-subjectification was that “zones for the unliving” existed in psychiatric hospitals long before the Nazi regime and within these zones, patients were exposed to an increased risk of death. An analysis of the nursing notes highlights that nurses played a decisive role in constructing these “zones” and had an important strategic function in them. Psychiatric hospitals became spaces where patients were reduced to a “bare life;” these spaces were comparable with the concentration camps of the Holocaust. This analysis enables the integration of nursing practices under National Socialism into the history of modernity. Nursing under Nazism was not simply a relapse into barbarism; Nazi exclusionary practices were extreme variants of scientific, social, and political exclusionary practices that were already in place. Different types of power are identifiable in the Nazi regime, even those that Foucault called “technologies of the self” were demonstrated, for example, by the denunciation of “disabled persons” by nurses. Nurses themselves were able to employ techniques of power in the Nazi regime.