The most important tenant nurses and physicians have is “First do no harm”
It is important that people who are transitioning out of this life be made as comfortable and pain free as possible. The families also need care. If that type of support is promoted and provided, then less people will feel the need to end their lives.
You make a good point about the families of the dying also need care, support and help. Medical and end-of-life issues have become too “specialized”, everything is in hands of “professionals” such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, hospice and social workers. People expect Medicare or the government to pay for everything and for everyone to fit an official job.
Dying has become a weird, surrealistic event in a hospital isolated from the person’s normal community. Maybe someone just needs an ordinary neighbor or friend to stop by and sit with the sick person to give the family member relief. The family needs to be able to talk about their worries in other people’s homes, at casual meals, there needs to be more overall extended family, church, community involvement (not just medical “professionals”) in caring for the sick and their families. As a society we would also benefit by not hiding and isolating sick and suffering people like it’s something to be ashamed of.
One idea I have seen is day care centers and nursing homes in the same building. The children visit and play with the elderly, and both benefit.