...Ethical Consideration of Euthanasia as an End of Life Decision Euthanasia is the act of intentionally causing the death of someone to end pain and suffering that they are experiencing. Euthanization encompasses many controversial variables that must be perceived when deciding whether or not it should be allowed and the ethics behind it. There are different aspects of euthanasia, such as active and passive methods that must be considered; where active is physically initiating death and passive is letting an individual die by removing or withholding treatment. There are also cultural aspects that affect people’s decisions and beliefs on the ethical reasoning with euthanasia. A person’s autonomy must also be considered in the decision making...
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...In class, we have talked about the differences of what makes a good death over a bad one. For the most part, we have agreed that a good death is “dying with dignity” or with the sense that life has been worthwhile and glorious despite the past. But what about people with terminal illnesses that wished to die to preserve their dignity? Should the laws prevent euthanasia (voluntary assisted death)? Or should they allow it to help patients find their inner peace by exacerbating their deaths? Thus, for this research proposal, I would like to discuss the legal and ethical dilemmas of euthanasia, otherwise known as voluntary assisted death and what it means for people who wants to be euthanized to ensure a sense of dignity over their lives. Specifically,...
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...Euthanasia could be socially acceptable for patients with chronic illnesses because it is an escape from pain felt from the illness, a decision made between the patient and family members, and the moral consideration of the physician to help end the life of a loved one. The decision by the patient to end their life to relieve their chronic pain and suffering from their illness should be based on knowledge and not emotions. Patients with cancer suffer pain from chemotherapy and radiation. The patient could become ill and unable to function in their everyday life. Choosing to end their life could be a choice made by the patient because of the pain and sickness that they are feeling. The patient should research their options before making...
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... However, despite ethical and legal prohibitions, calls for the liberalization of this ban have grown in recent years. The medical profession should articulate its views on the arguments for and against changes in public policy and decide whether changes are prudent. In addressing such a contentious issue, physicians, policymakers, and society must fully consider the needs of patients, the vulnerability of particular patient groups, issues of trust and professionalism, and the complexities of end-of-life health care. Physician-assisted suicide is prominent among the issues that define our professional norms and codes of ethics. The American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM) does not support the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. The routine practice of physician-assisted suicide raises serious ethical and other concerns. Legalization would undermine the patient-physician relationship and the trust necessary to sustain it; alter the medical profession's role in society; and endanger the value our society places on life, especially on the lives of disabled, incompetent, and vulnerable individuals. The word ‘euthanasia’ is derived from the Greek work for ‘good death’ and originally referred to intentional mercy killing. Applied to our society, euthanasia is the merciful ending of life to release a person from unendurable pain and suffering, a terminal disease, or an undignified death. The act of euthanasia can be active or passive...
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...Ethical Implications of Euthanasia Cheryl Markuson Grand Canyon University NRS 437V Sandi Coufal, MSN April 7, 2012 Our obligations as a nurse are to support the family and the patient. We need to make sure that they have been given every option that is available. Sometimes there is no treatment. According to the ANA in 1.3 states. “…..care aims to maximize the values that the patient has treasured in life and extends supportive care to the and significant others.” (ANA, 2001) It also goes on to state, “This is particularly vital in the care of patients and their families at the end of life to prevent and relive the cascade of symptoms and suffering that are associated with dying.” (ANA, 2001) This is not an easy topic for the courts to support. In the case of Terry Schiavo, despite the family fighting to keep her alive, as she was alive in every sense of the term other than she needed tube feeding and fluids. When her husband decided he wanted the feeding tube discontinued the family fought through the court system. Despite the testimony of many other medical professionals that she was disabled, the courts stood by the initial decision of the judge. There is no one specific law that governs each state as a whole. Each state has its own ruling on euthanasia. In Texas it states, “A person commits an offense if, with intent to promote or assist the commission of suicide by another, he aids or attempts to aid the other to commit or attempt to commit suicide.” (ProCon...
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...Ethical Theories Applied to Euthanasia It is a patient’s right to make the decision to end their life when they are facing a terminal illness, especially after all attempts to provide pain management have failed. However, these patients are left with few options due to the legal, moral, or religious complications of voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS). But, if terminally ill patients had these options available, they would be given the respect to die with the dignity they are entitled to at the end of their life. By applying the utilitarian theory to this question, we would first have to ask, are we providing the greatest amount of happiness or more pain? From a utilitarian point of view, if allowing someone to die with dignity will promote more happiness for them, and those who will be affected by this act, then it is morally ethical. By applying virtue ethics, we would have to ask, whether it is more charitable to continue with pain management until their death, or to relieve their unnecessary pain and suffering by voluntary euthanasia or PAS. Regardless of the moral theories applied, legalizing voluntary euthanasia or PAS, will grant more options, to include reducing the amount of suffering experienced, eliminate the patient’s use of other means to end his or her life, and allow for families to prepare for their loved one’s passing, all of which keeps the patient’s dignity intact. Utilitarianism looks at the best action producing the best consequences...
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...The first chapter of the book is based on what is Descriptive and Normative and the dif-ference from one another but it does also entails other rules and forms of ethics. I must agree that ethics cannot be taught because it should be practiced rather than only dis-cussed. In addition, the only thought of rightful things to do when it comes to decisions that affect other people’s lives, is more than disturbing. The normative is more based on rules set by a circle that we may call society. The question is, how can it be a society such when it as a whole, does not decide those rules. Another way to put this prerogative into a different prospective is an example I have been giving in different classes I attended. Euthanasia, a very meaningful word...
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...Running head: ANALYSIS OF AN ETHICAL DILEMMA Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma NRS 437V December 11, 2011 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Euthanasia, sometimes referred to as mercy killing, is an act by a third party that causes a patient’s death. Such acts include administering a lethal dose of medication by way of injection or mask, usually to a seriously ill patient. This analysis will discuss the ethics of euthanasia as it relates to nursing, laws, society, and the stakeholders involved in the scenario. The American Nurses Association (ANA) believes that the nurse should not participate in Active euthanasia because such an act is in direct violation of the Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, the ethical traditions and goals of the profession, and its covenant with society. (Task Force on the Nurse's Role in End-of-Life Decisions, 2011) While patient advocates should be vigilant for providing diligent care, they should perform their tasks with respect, support and due commitment towards their care. In healthcare practice, in order to relieve pain and suffering, there is an obligation to promote dignity and autonomy of patients. Euthanasia is a complex issue in which nurses are uncomfortable determining the life and death of a patient. Nurses have to practice ethical principles of beneficence, which maximize benefit and reduce potential risk and harm to the patient. Non-malfeasance is another ethical issue in which a nurse should do no harm. A competent...
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...AND EThICAL IssUEs Of EUThANAsIA: ARGUmENTATIvE EssAy Bilal S. H. Badr Naga Majd T. Mrayyan (1) Bilal S. H. Badr Naga., MSN, RN, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qassim, Saudi Arabia (2) Majd T. Mrayyan., Prof, RN, The Hashemite University, Jordan Correspondence: Bilal S. H. Badr Naga., MSN, RN, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qassim, Saudi Arabia Email: Bilal_badrnaga@yahoo.com Case scenario Abstract Euthanasia is one of the issues that has been the subject of intense debate over time. It has been a pertinent issue in human rights discourse as it also affects ethical and legal issues pertaining to patients and health care providers. This paper discusses the legal and ethical debates concerning both types of euthanasia. It focuses on both the supporter of euthanasia and the opponent of euthanasia. Several statements for the Euthanasia argument arediscussed: a merciful response that alleviates the suffering of patients which is sometimes wrongly perceived to be otherwise unrelievable; the autonomy in which the patient has the right to make his own choices; the regulation and legislation of existing practices of euthanasia to protect health care providers and patients. In this heated debate religious, political, ethical, legal and personal views are also included. Among all these, those who desperately want to end their lives because they simply cannot go on in any way, are the ones who suffer. Every individual or group has a different viewpoint regarding euthanasia. Euthanasia...
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...Ethical Analysis of Weensolsen’s The Art of Dying Excelsior College Abstract In The Art of Dying, How to Leave This World with Dignity and Grace, at Peace with Yourself and Your loved Ones, Patricia Weenolsen, Ph.D. takes a practical approach to show the reader how the process of dying can actually bring emotional healing. In her book Patricia Weenolsen makes a strong case for euthanasia. Even though only a pages deal directly with euthanasia directly, the overarching theme of The Art of Dying deals with a “good death” and thusly exerting no small amount of influence on ones departure from this life and surrounding circumstances. In dealing with the emotions surrounding the death process, the reader is given tools that result in some small measure of control that inevitably leads to contemplation of euthanasia. In what I would term a most compassionate manner, Patricia Weenolsen takes the reader on a journey through the end of life, helping the reader to prepare for the final pages of this life. Keywords: euthanasia, death, dying, Patricia Weenolsen Introduction In her book, The Art of Dying: How to Leave This World With Dignity and Grace, at Peace With Yourself and Your Loved Ones, Patricia Weenolsen, Ph.D. delivers a compelling argument for euthanasia that will cause readers to consider the manner in which they choose to leave this life both physically and mentally. While arguments can be made against euthanasia, the ability of terminally ill patients of...
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...will be ethical issues that surround it. Since we are only on this earth for so long then death becomes one of those issues that we must face. With the new advancements in technology death can become complicated. Also since we have other issues such as euthanasia involved things will only get even more complicated. Euthanasia, definition of death, living will decisions, and ethical issues surrounding these subjects will be discussed. End of Life Decisions No one living on this earth will live forever. It comes a point in time when we all must go. Our bodies are not made that way and they start to break down. Once deterioration happens or if a person comes into physical contact that causes the body too much trauma then death occurs. In the past twenty years four concepts of death have emerged, traditional, whole-brain, higher-brain, and personhood. Each one of these versions of death has ethical issues surrounding them and complicate important end of life decisions. Ethical issues surrounding when a person is dying is euthanasia and end of life decisions such has a person being on life support or having a feeding tube. Euthanasia is define as “The act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy” (n.d. Merriam-Webster). There are different types of euthanasia such as active, passive, involuntary, and voluntary. “Active euthanasia is the deliberate...
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...foundation of ethical theories. We can talk about two main general categories in which we can place the ethical theories: teleological and deontological. From the first category we enumerate the Aristotelian perspective or the one developed by J. St. Mill, while the Kantian perspective is exemplary for deontological ethics. According to the teleological perspective, a form of human behavior is described as moral or non-moral according to the goals explicitly set. The mere achievement of these goals is a necessary and sufficient condition to qualify as moral people’s actions or deeds without taking into account the “intermediate stages” of the actions performed to achieve those goals. Deontology, as a general horizon of articulating the ethical theories, believes on the contrary that in every moment of our existence, every action or deed that we accomplish can be described as moral or non-moral according to the ethical principles underlying our behavior. The very important consequences arising from the two general theoretical horizons concern two different perspectives on “human nature”, or what we call the essence of the human being. Starting from this horizon we will have the consequentialist and deontological dimensions related to euthanasia. The bioethical dimension in which we will discuss the issue of euthanasia involves both dimensions or horizons. The arguments against euthanasia seem to rely rather on the Kantian deontological horizon, while euthanasia pros seem...
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...of life. However, the ethical issue we have taken up is about death which is induced before time. The background setting for our live case is the very debatable issue of “Euthanasia”. Literally, euthanasia means “Good Death” (Greek: eu = good, thanatos = death). More formally, euthanasia means the intentional act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from an incurable and distressing disease as an act of mercy, which is not necessarily at the request of the patient. Forms of Euthanasia: • Voluntary euthanasia: When the patient has requested the death. • Non-voluntary: When the patient has not made any request and gave no consent. • Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide." • Euthanasia by Action: Intentionally causing a person's death by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection. • Euthanasia by Omission: Intentionally causing death by not providing necessary and ordinary (usual and customary) care or food and water. Euthanasia evokes a mixed reaction among people who come across it. For some, it is unimaginable to end a human life and yet some think it is justified to end a life which is not worth of dignity. There are several moral and ethical issues concerning this...
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...ETHICAL ISSUES IN HEALTH To evaluate the impact of moral philosophy on medical practice we must first look at what a moral philosophy is, also which philosophies that will be included. Moral philosophy is the area of philosophy concerned with theories of ethics, with how we ought to live our lives. Deontology and utilitarianism are the two philosophies that I shall be evaluating and applying throughout this essay. These are two time-honoured philosophical positions that apply to a wide variety of topics. Deontology is an ethical system that is attributed to the philosophical tradition of Immanuel Kant. Deontology demands that the actions, or means themselves must be ethical. This philosophy is based upon principles of duty and obligation, we have the freedom to act morally (right) or otherwise (wrong) based on General Universal Laws. To respect life means that you must not kill, to respect others is not to steal these moral laws are black and white as you must do what is right and do not do what is wrong regardless of circumstance or outcome. Deontologists argue that there are transcendent ethical norms and truths that are universally applicable to all people. Deontology holds that some actions are immoral regardless of their consequence; these actions are wrong in and of themselves. We should not act out of feeling, inclination, love or compassion, but out of our moral duty according to the universal moral laws. Kant gives a ‘categorical imperative’ to act morally at all times...
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...Euthanasia Euthanasia - Deep sympathy for the suffering Introduction Euthanasia is the deliberate killing either by omission or commission of a dependent person for their benefit. Arguments against euthanasia claim that the concern for happiness and human life and not their obliteration is the objective of any good governance. They say that the terminally ill are people who require protection from social, economic and family pressures, and who are particularly prone to this pressure as a result of chronic depression, pain and effects of continued medication. Arguments for euthanasia say it is impossible to maintain quality of life if a patient is dead. While there have been massive arguments, debates and campaigns against euthanasia, this paper will seek to support euthanasia because of the moral issues that relate to the topic. This paper supports that when a personal is physically dead, the only reason anybody wishes to keep them alive is for their selfish clinging onto them with the hope of a miracle and the fear of closure without regard to the wishes of the person. It supports the practice of euthanasia and seeks to evaluate the reasons why euthanasia should be legalized. This paper will have a general audience because of the controversy that it sparks every time it comes up Death is a dreaded subject for all human beings because it signifies leaving the known to go to the unknown. This is the reason why by its nature euthanasia is a hugely hushed up topic...
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