...Justice for Theresa Schiavo The case of Theresa (Terri) Marie Schiavo was a very well known in 2005. This case is the classic no win-win situation. Everyone will have a different point of view and perspective regarding this case. Terri was born on December 3, 1963 in Pennsylvania. In 1984 at age 20, she married her husband, Michael Schiavo, 21. Six years later something happened that changed her life forever. On February 25, 1990 Terri suffered from a cardiac arrest which caused her some brain damage leaving her in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS). PVS can be defined as "a clinical condition of unawareness of self and environment, in which the patient, has a stable circulation, and shows cycles of eye closure and opening [that] may simulate sleep and waking". She was able to breathe on her own. However; she was given a percutaneous endoscopy gastronomy (PEG) to provide nutrition and hydration. Her husband becomes her guardian, which her parents, Mr,&Ms.Schindler, did not object. Terri was moved several times around from rehab to rehab and even different states for continuous testing. In 1992, two years after her accident Ms.Schiavo’s physician awards more than one million dollars. Her husband received $300,000 and about $750,000 was put in a trust fund specifically for Terri’s medical care. Just five months after Michael received the money Terri’s parents tried to become the guardian but courts decline. This is the part where it gets a little tricky and makes...
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...Running head: LEGAL CASE STUDY: TERRI SCHIAVO CASE Legal Case Study: The Terri Shiavo Case University of Phoenix Legal Case Study: Terri Schiavo Case Terri Schiavo sustained a permanent brain injury on February 25, 1990. She did not have a living will or a durable power of attorney. Her husband, Michael Shiavo, was appointed her legal guardian. Because Ms. Shiavo was unable to swallow, a feeding tube kept her alive and nourished. Later that year, she was determined to be in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). Throughout the early 1990’s, Mr. Shiavo worked hard with his wife’s health care team, providing her with extensive rehabilitation, which included physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Despite this effort, Ms. Shiavo’s condition did not improve. After he accepted his wife’s prognosis, he worked to follow through with what he stated were her beliefs that she would not want to continue to be kept alive through the means of artificial life support. Her parents disagreed with his convictions of what his wife would want, and subsequently the most watched ethical dilemma played out for the world to see. (Perry, Churchill, & Kirshner, 2005). This case has been the focus of medical, legal, theological, ethical, political, and social controversy nationwide. The case alone threatened to undo thirty years of ethical and legal progress enabling individuals to control and limit medical interventions performed on them. (Hook & Mueller, 2005). This paper will discuss...
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...The Ethics for Nurses in Medically Assisted Suicide Physician-assisted suicide also known as PAS, is a controversial topic everywhere; some believe if a patient is terminally ill then it should be permissible while others believe it is against their beliefs and religion to commit any type of suicide. Physician-assisted suicide is when a patient requests the help of digesting a lethal drug to quicken their death (United States Physician Assisted Suicide Law Summary and Law Digest par. 1). The most common patients to request assisted suicide are patients with cancer and AIDs. Active euthanasia is sometimes also considered physician-assisted suicide because it results in death from someone purposely doing something to the patient causing them to die; such as being injected with poison. Passive euthanasia is the withholding of a medical treatment for a patient, which is legal, but many come to be disagreed upon. Withholding food and water, turning off machines, and failing to resuscitate are prime examples of passive euthanasia (United States Physician Assisted Suicide Law Summary and Law Digest par. 1). There are currently three states that permit physician-assisted suicide, Washington and Oregon. On October 27, 1997, the Death with Dignity Act was passed in Oregon. The Death with Dignity Act states that an Oregonian that is terminally-ill has the right to voluntarily, self-administrate lethal medications with a prescription from their physician. On March 5, 2009, Washington passed...
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...Linnette Nolte March 3, 2013 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Part 2 As a continuation of a previous study, the Grand Canyon University Team White Ethics Committee further examines the dilemma of euthanasia. Four individual personal interviews were conducted and the results are included below. The Team White Ethics Committee has been tasked with the challenge of comparing similarities and differences between the cases we have studied and making a recommendation on each case based on our interviews and personal beliefs. The first case was Dax (Busada, 2011) and the second case was Terry Schiavo (Springs, 2009). Interview #1 To receive a spiritual leader’s perspective about euthanasia, Pastor Sandy Ash of Harbor Chapel Community Church in Moss Landing, California was interviewed. The interview started by giving Pastor Ash a brief background regarding both the Dax and Terry Schiavo stories. When asked about her view on euthanasia, Pastor Ash stated, “If it’s a person who doesn’t want to live then there’s still hope and they shouldn’t give up since there is no machine keeping them alive. There’s a lot to live for” (Ash, 2013). Pastor Ash also added, “It depends on what stage. If there’s a machine then the person should let them go if they want to go, if that’s their wish” (Ash, 2013). With Terry’s case, she was young and did not have anything on paper stating her wishes should she become incompetent of making medical decisions. When asked about her thoughts on Terry’s...
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...one of those Taboo topics that individuals try to distance themselves from due to the fact that it’s a sensitive issue. Most individuals try to take a politically correct stand without evaluating the impact it has on the aggrieved party’s life. Euthanasia in itself may seem a simple issue at the first instance, but by probing deep into the issue we are made to ponder a lot about not only its ethical aspects but also the stakes involved in exercising Euthanasia as a fundamental right of an individual. The dilemma in this issue is a lot more complicated if we were to compare it to other conventional ethical dilemmas because both the stands seem morally right, but there’s a legal perspective which opposes one school of thought and supports the other. Is an individual allowed to determine his death if survival is more of a formality? If so what is the basis of qualifying a case to be a suitable contender for euthanasia? Is the judiciary ignoring this since Euthanasia is an issue faced by a minority? SOME FAMOUS VOICES ON EUTHNASIA: 1. Mr. Ravi B Naik, former High Court Judge and Senior Advocate: (deccanherald.com) “When it is not possible for man to give life, who is he to take it away? We should leave death in the hands of God who gave life. There is no law that allows killing by force till a man dies naturally, nor should there be one. In a situation where it is ‘impossible to live’, people die naturally. When they don’t die, doesn’t it mean they can live? It is meaningless...
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...viewed as a way out, against religious and moral perspectives, and many are afraid that if it were to be completely legal in all of the United States then citizens would certainly abuse this right. However, the four states that have legalized it, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana prove these opinions to be false. Especially in Oregon the Death with Dignity Act set the precedent for Euthanasia legislature by setting limitations on who or who could not be considered to actively take their own life. These limitations included a minimum age of 18 years, a diagnoses of six months to live or less, two oral recommendations from physicians at least fifteen days apart and one written recommendation from a physician before the patient could be qualified for active Euthanasia. These guidelines made the practice of Euthanasia more practical to Americans. In a study conducted by Public Agenda, Gallup Organization, in the year 1950 only twenty-six percent of Americans supported assisted suicide and that number more than doubled in 2003 to seventy-two percent. These information alone proves the progressiveness of this form of mercy, this form of choice that euthanasia gives to those suffering. Euthanasia has many forms and is a positive act for those in extreme pain, it gives terminally ill people the last piece of control, people have the natural right to live and they should have the natural right to die, and it allows patients to exit life in a dignified and graceful manner. To begin...
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...least individual decision making in cases of active euthanasia The BBC wrote in an Aug. 3, 2009 online article titled "Religion & Ethics - Christianity: Euthanasia - the Christian View" on www.bbc.co.uk: "Christians are mostly against euthanasia. The arguments are usually based on the beliefs that life is given by God, and that human beings are made in God's image. Some churches also emphasise the importance of not interfering with the natural process of death... Christians believe that the intrinsic dignity and value of human lives means that the value of each human life is identical. They don't think that human dignity and value are measured by mobility, intelligence, or any achievements in life. Valuing human beings as equal just because they are human beings has clear implications for thinking about euthanasia: • patients in a persistent vegetative state, although seriously damaged, remain living human beings, and so their intrinsic value remains the same as anyone else's • so it would be wrong to treat their lives as worthless and to conclude that they 'would be better off dead' • patients who are old or sick, and who are near the end of earthly life have the same value as any other human being • people who have mental or physical handicaps have the same value as any other human being... Some features of Christianity suggest that there...
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...Should euthanasia be an option for people in need? Known as the practice of assisted suicide by intentionally ending a life, euthanasia is a controversial and disputed subject, meaning easy or good death. Euthanasia’s medical definition is defined as the act or practice of killing terribly sick or injured people in a painless way or allowing them to take less than the medically approved procedures necessary to lengthen their life, for reasons of mercy. (Death Talk, pg. 101-102) Considered by many to be a form of murder being morally and ethically wrong by devaluing one’s life, euthanasia can serve a purpose. When there are no other alternatives to relieve suffering patients, they should then be allowed to have opportunity to choose euthanasia as an option. There are different variations of euthanasia known as passive, active, physician assisted and non-voluntary. Passive euthanasia is withdrawing life-sustaining treatments or withholding them with the slow intention of causing the patient’s death. In other words, a doctor can disconnect feeding tubes; turn off life support machines, not performing life-prolonging procedures, or not giving drugs to the patient. (Euthanasia: A Reference Handbook, pg. 2) Active euthanasia is the act of taking particular measures to cause the patient’s death, achieved by the request of the patient. Often times when it comes to active euthanasia, it is done by request. (Euthanasia: A reference Handbook, pg. 2) The difference between passive and...
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...Death is one of the few inevitable events in life; it is something everybody must face in their lifetime. Many fear it, but for some it is an opportunity to embrace freedom and tranquility from their suffering. For the terminally-ill, they want to liberate themselves from their illness, but modern medicine, sometimes, can only reduce their pain to a certain degree. Doctors trying to salvage their patients’ lives could possibly cause more harm than actually aiding the patient. As medical professionals, they abide to do no harm to their patients, to only reduce their pain and cope with their suffering, it is damaging them even more. The last option for many terminally-ill patient is to die and allow medical professionals to help them. Therefore,...
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...Comp. 1 9 December 2012 Euthanasia Controversy In today’s society, health care is a major issue. Healthcare is preventions of illnesses. There have been many debates on how to solve the problem. Many professional doctors and nurses around the world have been discussing different topics to try to find cures for all kinds of health issues people are faced with. One main topic that has been discussed is Euthanasia, which is the act of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. Euthanasia is also called medically assisted suicide by a lot of people. It originated from the Greek language. Euthanasia should not be strained on a single person but could be helpful in some instances. “There are two types of Euthanasia, active and passive. Active Euthanasia is death by commission. Passive Euthanasia is death by emission.” (Mcmanaman 2). Many people make a moral differentiation between the two but if you are not severely ill or in a dying state these actions will not apply to you, because then it will just be just like murdering a patient. If it is not legally processed , this is a very offensive case so therefore the consequences will be highly looked at. The way of using Euthanasia is looked down upon because of the way it devalues human life. The Government should not have the power of making it legal to end someones life because it is such a moral issue. However, Euthanasia could be good when used...
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...Mortality, February 2005; 10(1): 69 – 81 Tube feeding: Prolonging life or death in vulnerable populations? ELAINE J. AMELLA, JAMES F. LAWRENCE, & SUZANNE O. GRESLE Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA Abstract Tube feeding can be an appropriate and effective means of providing nutrition for individuals who are unable to achieve adequate nourishment orally because of various medical problems. However, the delivery of nutrients by tube feeding can cause ethical dilemmas in cases where the effectiveness of tube feeding diminishes and medical complications increase. The decision to tube feed is often influenced by regional and cultural preferences, as well as the high cost of providing mealtime assistance. The effectiveness and appropriateness of tube feeding has been the subject of much debate as it applies to those with severe cognitive impairments and those who are in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). Recent research shows that in these vulnerable populations, tube feeding alone does not necessarily prevent malnutrition and risk of infection or improve functional status and comfort. While advanced directives allow an individual to make decisions about his or her care at the end of life, court cases and religious doctrine examine the individual’s right to autonomous decision making in opposition to preserving the sanctity of life. As long as the outcome of this debate is largely undecided, the process of dying may be prolonged for...
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...emphasis on prevention of disease by screening for risk factors and encouraging patients to practice behaviors that foster good health. In the past patients would seek medical care only after symptoms had developed that interfered with their lifestyle. Todays’ trend reflects patients taking a proactive approach to preventing a disease after they have been exposed to the education through mass media such as commercials, the internet, or brochures obtained from clinics or physicians’ offices. With the advances in technology medical professionals are able to reach far more people than in the past. This technology has given professional nurses the ability to encourage more patients to improve their health while fostering positive behavioral changes, referred to as health promotion. Health promotion is defined as the process of empowering patients to improve their health while fostering behavioral, cognitive and emotional activities as to advocate health and well-being of the population as a whole (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). Lifestyle choices and motivation both play a major role in positive patient outcomes. As stated by Edelman & Mandle (2010), “Primary care providers, including nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses, now attempt to involve individuals and their families in the delivery of care, and teaching patients about individual responsibilities and...
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...Business Ethics in a Hospital Setting Darlene V Nickerson Columbia Southern University Abstract Business ethics in a hospital setting includes a review of many areas. Ethical considerations include the areas of patient care, nursing ethics, physician ethics, patient privacy, and medical billing practices. This paper will touch on ethical concerns for each of these topics. Keywords: hospitals, ethics, patient care, nursing, physicians Business Ethics in a Hospital Setting When beginning a discussion of business ethics in a hospital setting it is important to take a broad approach. Because a hospital is a business and also a treatment facility, the ethical concerns must be considered not only for areas such as billing and privacy but also for ethics related to the appropriate care of patients, nursing ethics, and physician ethics. The ethics of the treatment methods employed based on the patient’s condition must also be considered. Ethics and Patient Care I believe that when discussing the ethical implications of patient care it is helpful to review a real-world scenario. One highly publicized case involved Terri Schiavo and her husband’s fight to stop her tube feedings as there was no hope for her recovery (VandeKieft, 2005). One reason for the high visibility of this case in the media occurred because the patient's husband and the patient's family disagreed on the diagnosis (VandeKieft, 2005). Terri suffered a cardiac arrest due to severe hypokalemia (low potassium...
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...Abstract Research into trends concerning medical futility reveal that aggressive treatment at the end of life is not equating to better outcomes (Colello 2008). In fact, not only is it providing no benefit, all too often it imposes unnecessary pain and suffering. In the case of patients who lack decision making capacity and do not have an advance directive, families are often approached by nursing staff and asked “Do you want us to do everything?” or if they would prefer a Do Not Resuscitate status (DNR), meaning CPR will not be initiated if breathing or the patient’s heart were to stop. This sends a confusing message to families, that there is something worthy of offering their loved ones; when the reality is, there is nothing worthwhile left to offer. More often than not, despite a grim prognosis for the patient and the possibility of being in a persistent vegetative state (PSV), families routinely choose this option, largely because an informative conversation has never taken place as to the implications of these decisions. This is an issue which can no longer be overlooked. It is costing our nation dearly, both ethically and fiscally. As Americans, it is high time that we come to terms with our mortality and accept the reality that death awaits us all. Denial will not make it less likely to occur. As such, in an effort to promote awareness of this issue and the detrimental impact it has on patients and society as a whole, the following will define and explain the various...
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...Strengths and Weaknesses……………………………………………………………….11 Timeline and Cost Considerations……………………………………………………….12 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….13 Concept Model………………………………………………………………..Appendix A Sample Questions……………………………………………………………..Appendix B References……………………………………………………………………………….18 Research Proposal Research Proposal Introduction Intensive care units (ICUs) were designed to provide highly skilled, lifesaving nursing care to viable patients with acute illnesses or injuries. Patients with chronic and/or terminal illness were not expected to be admitted to these units, with the possible exception of acute exacerbations of reversible complications. Patients whose care needs changed from curative to palliative were intended to be transferred out of critical care to patient care environments more suited to end-of-life care. However, as more patients become “chronically critically ill”, critical care nurses are being asked more often to provide care to patients on their deathbeds (Puntillo et al., 2001). Deciding which ICU patients are actually dying remains an extremely inexact science, and the transition to palliative care is not one easily made. ICU mortality rates are as high as 69% (Puntillo et al., 2001);...
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