Ethical reflections on narrative wills in elderly end-of-life patients
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2025.06.05
- VernacularTitle:叙事遗嘱在老年生命末期患者中的伦理学思辨
- Author:
Linan CHENG
1
;
Fuman CAI
1
;
Huiling LI
2
;
Qian CHEN
3
;
Fengying ZHANG
3
Author Information
1. School of Nursing， Wenzhou Medical University， Wenzhou 325000， China
2. School of Nursing， Soochow University， Suzhou 215006， China
3. School of Nursing， West China Hospital of Sichuan University， Chengdu 640000， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
narrative will;
the elderly;
end-of-life patient;
ethical reflections
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2025;38(6):712-717
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Elderly end-of-life patients often experience distress due to being caught in dilemmas of contemplation and decision-making. Narrative wills， grounded in life values and premised on respecting individual wishes and needs， present an individual’s unique life story through narrative forms， conveying their overall experience， interpretation of meaning， and understanding of life. They are preserved and passed on in a way that meets individual expectations， thereby promoting human exploration， reflection， and growth regarding the meaning of life through interpersonal interactions that transcend space and time. This paper explored the concept of narrative wills among elderly end-of-life patients， the ethical value and ethical principles of narrative wills， and the moral and ethical risks. It also provided specific ethical interpretations， assisting in the application and development of narrative wills in elderly end-of-life patients.
