...Physician-Assisted Suicide SOC 120 Professor Harrison 29 July 2013 Physician-Assisted Suicide Imagine a frail elderly woman laying in the nursing home in pain. This woman is 80 years old and has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and her heart cannot withstand treatment via radiation or chemotherapy. She has less than six months to live. Day in and day out you pass her room and hear her crying out from the immense pain. The pain medications are no longer working. She’s tired of fighting, tired of hurting, and tired of waiting to die. After consideration and discussions with her family she has decided to ask the doctor to help and end her life. The doctor feels remorse for the elderly lady and wants to help but cannot decide if it is the ethical thing to do because he knows that what he’s being asked to do is considered physician-assisted suicide. How is physician-assisted suicide any different than regular suicide? Does the fact that a person is terminally ill make it right? Who gets to decide if it is right? These are questions people may ask themselves when deciding whether or not they think physician-assisted suicide is ethical. Whether it is requested or not, many would say it is unethical for a physician to deliberately cause death to a person. Physicians take an oath to first do no harm. Others may say that a person has the right to make his or her own decisions about his or her life. In this paper, I will explore each side of physician-assisted...
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...begin with, Morality refers to the codes of conduct put forward by a society which used to judge whether or not a person's behavior is justified with the guidelines. It acts as a scale to evaluate and regulate people's behavior towards the social norm. In this Xiao Yue Yue incident, as the society as a whole criticize the drivers and those 18 passers-by, it is clear that we all have a common ‘moral standard’ in our mind that indicate what should be done and what shouldn't be. It is no question that we are told to follow this ‘moral standard’ setting by the society and perform the corresponding behaviors, but why did those 18 passers-by act in an exact opposite way? In fact, nowadays, it is very risk to give help to any strangers on the street in China. Prior to the Xiao Yue Yue incident, there is an issue often being discussed in the Mainland society in recent years – Will you give a hand to help if you saw any elderly fall down on the street? Incidents were happened in a similar pattern: many people were being framed after helping the elderly, and some of them even required to compensate the elderly with up to one hundred thousand...
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...Besides that, health care also the services are provided to people or communities by agents of the health services or professions for the purpose of promoting, maintaining, monitoring, or restoring health. According to the Institute of Medicine, they defines health care quality as the extent to which health services provided to individuals and patient populations improve desired health outcomes. The care should be based on the strongest clinical evidence and provided in a technically and culturally competent manner with good communication and shared decision making. While dementia or senile are often synonymous with the elderly. Senile is a condition in which the brain has decreased, causing a decline in memory of a patient with severe and cannot even take care of you. Dementia or senile is a disease and not alarmed foreign to the Malay community, since time immemorial have been recorded by type as Munshi Abdullah, in his famous book. It usually only pose problems to a family member when the disease came too early from the age norm. If the patient began suffering from dementia when he reached 80 years were normal and not a problem. But if the patient was only 60 years old, is suffering from dementia, so it is very stressful for the family. The health needs of old people are now a matter of concern in all industrialized and developing countries. This concern reflects the growth in the aged population. According to United Nations estimates, old people, that is those 65 years of age...
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...upon their deathbed. From newborn infants with severe handicaps, to elderly men and women diagnosed with hopeless amnesia, euthanasia has found a place in society since society’s creation. In this paper I will focus on the controversial and difficult issue of assisted suicide or euthanasia. I will discuss my beliefs concerning euthanasia, to include the “special population” and identify the laws concerning physician-assisted suicide in the state of North Dakota. Euthanasia has its share of protesters, and there are some supporters who recognize the boundaries. Let’s discuss some of my beliefs concerning euthanasia. A person has become extremely ill and doesn't want to continue suffering, should he/she be forced to stay alive? Whose life is it anyways? Is it the family's life or the persons'? As our text explains, physician-assisted suicide occurs when the physician gives the patient a lethal dose of some medication, but the patient administers it him/herself. Euthanasia occurs when the physician carries out the final act. (Pozgar, 2010). Most families believe that they should be given the right to decide if they want to let their loved ones go, but in most cases it's not the family's choice. The decision to live or die usually rests with the individual, unless he/she is too ill to make a reasonable decision. Immediate family members, such as spouses or the parents are given the right to choose to end their loved one's life of pain and suffering, due to a terminal...
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...America today. The baby boomer generation has hit their elder years and drastically changed the numbers for this age group. Because the number has gone up so quickly we have limited people willing to take care of the elderly. The cost for care has gone up also, making more families opt to keep their loved ones at home instead of sending them to the nursing homes. The fear of elder abuse is higher now because of the cost rise in elder care. Nursing homes are being frowned upon because they do not have enough staff to properly take care of the patients they have. This presents a big problem for society because either choice, nursing homes or in home care can have a negative outcome for our elderly. Abuse is happening more often because we were not prepared in advance to take care of this jump in patients. This paper will look at this issue from a utilitarianism point of view as well as an emotivism point of view. From a utilitarianism point of view the best way to fix this problem would be for more people to pay attention to the elderly. Everyone working together to fix this issue would be the best route. Leaving it to only a few people is not going to work. Laws have been passed and yet we still have elder abuse going on. For the elderly that are being taken care of in their homes there should be more than one family member taking care of the person when at all possible. Each family member could take turns so that no one person gets over loaded and stressed...
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...this has greatly influenced my values and beliefs. I believe that there is a God and that He has a plan for the life we are supposed to live. We all have a purpose on earth and are here to live our life to the fullest, but it is only temporary. I have faith that I will go to heaven and be reunited with my loved ones that I have lost. This is something that is really important to me, in my mind knowing that I will get to see my family again allows me to view death as something that is not to be feared. It is something to look forward to because God has promised a better life beyond the one we live on earth. In my opinion aging is just another part...
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...Our democracy should not legalize active voluntary, active nonvoluntary euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide, but should be given as a choice to patients in some extreme cases. Euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from a terminal illness, disability, or coma. Euthanasia has sparked a strong debate in society, and continues to be controversial on whether it should be practiced at all. Euthanasia attacks the basis of many individual’s ethical beliefs and causes many to fear that how individuals view life will deteriorate in life. The debate also disrupts the world of physicians and their morals on if they want to be given the power to take a patient’s life. But the most salient person to make the decision is the patient. The patient has their own beliefs and choices on how they would like to leave this world. However, because of the harm that could be done to the value of human life and the vulnerable of society, the practice of either euthanasia or physician-assisted...
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...peace and happiness on earth. Some other CSTs include the principle of respect for human life, the principle of family, community and participation, rights and duties, the common good, option for the poor, rights of workers, principle of solidarity, and stewardship. Starting off with the aspect of dignity of the human person I used an image that had part of the bible quote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for we are all one in Christ...
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...Homes for the Out and Proud As the years go on, the United States is seeing a growing elderly population. By the year 2030, it is projected that the elderly population will nearly double. This outlook is constant on the aspect of the gay and lesbian community. At this point in time there is an estimated 3 million gay and lesbians in the United States. By the year 2030, there will be approximately 6 million gay and lesbians in the United States. By the year 2030, there will be approximately 6 million gay and lesbians in the United States. http://www.wmitchell.edu/elderlaw/topics/biblios/davidson.pdf. The challenge will come to the United States in 2030. The baby boomers have higher expectations. The baby boomers have attitudes that exceed the norm. This is the generation that fought for rights for women. This is the generation that fought for rights of all. The baby boomers had children later in life, putting their career first. It is essential that the United States begins to prepare the nursing homes for the diverse part of the elderly. The baby boomers, in general, are a diverse group of individuals. The nursing homes will have to make room for this generation of elderly. The nursing home community is not prepared for the large number of gay and lesbians that will be aging and needing long term care. As the gay and lesbians age, this particular population of elderly will have many obstacles to overcome. First off the realization that there is a severe shortage...
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...18 marker There are a number of psychological methods that can be used to gain control in a situation that needs order, such as a prison or in this case, an uncooperative group of elderly people. These include techniques such as token economy programmes and anger management programmes; also ECT can be considered. Token economy programmes are a form of behaviour modification based on the principles of operant conditioning. It was originally created as a behaviour modification method; however it is now just usually used to maintain good behaviour in prison settings. It can be applied to the nursing home situation as it will encourage cooperative behaviour because they will be gaining tokens for good behaviour, which will eventually result in a reward. For example if the elderly people cooperate with the rules and do not be disruptive for a day, they will receive a token. If they receive 5 tokens they will be rewarded with something such as being able to stay up later to watch their chosen programme on a chosen day. The residents will also receive more privileges and treats than they normally would have, if they cooperate with the guidelines of the programme. The nurses might try and reward cooperative behaviour and completely ignore undesired behaviour, as it may be the attention which the residents are looking for. Token economy programmes may be preferred over punishment because the nurses may be inclined to remove privileges and even basic needs or desires. This has been...
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...1961 by William Henry and Elaine Cumming and it claims the beliefs that as people get older and become more fragile (elderly), they would naturally tend to withdraw themselves from social involvement, being less active and restricting themselves from interacting with others. http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-disengagement-theory.htm (Pearson education limited, 2010, pg170). However this is not the case for all ageing individuals as reasons for their disengagement may not be the result of the theory. For example, ill health of an individual may be the reason they become less sociable as it may prevent/restrict them from doing things and interacting with people how they would’ve before. In the case study we learn of Martha and Catherine, two elderly individuals of 80 who out of choice live in sheltered housing due to physical disabilities and as looking after their own home is too stressful, who have taken to the theory in different ways. The social disengagement theory hasn’t yet affected Martha fully or her look on life as she enjoys interacting with others in the home she lives – ‘there are always people to talk to and sometimes we get together to play cards’. Martha says ‘I like to get out and walk in the park as much as possible in order to stay fit’, while however she said she ‘couldn’t cope where she lived before as she couldn’t cope to keep it clean or have the building work it required carried out. While however for Catherine, it is evident that as she has aged she has...
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...According to California Department of Justice, elder abuse victims often live in silent desperation, unwilling to seek assistance because they unfortunately believe their cries for help will go unanswered and they fear retaliation from their abusers (CDJB, 2002). Many remain silent to protect abusive family members from the legal consequences of their crimes, or are too embarrassed to admit that they have fallen victim to predators (CDJB, 2002). Others fear that no one will believe them- chalking up their allegations to the effect of old age (CDJB, 2002). After Sonny left that day, he knew what was happening to his mom was wrong and he had to take action. He went home, logged into the California Department of Social Services, filled out...
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...and virtue ethics. Consequentialism focus on the consequences associated with the decision that was made. When an individual uses this approach, that individual should ensure that they are fully knowledgeable of the problem in order to make an ethical decision. It is crucial that the person has the ability to examine the affects both negative and positive that will occur because of the decision. When using the deontology approach, one focuses on if it was a right decision or not instead of focusing on the consequences. With this method, all of the questions about ethics and principles arise. The last method is called the virtue ethic approach. This method strives on keeping the morals and integrity of both the community and the individuals. By keeping the morals and integrity of a community when making decisions, it ensures that the decision will be made using the personality traits of the individual. These traits include honest, generosity, wisdom, intuition, and common sense. Is the course of action really the most ethical choice? Scenario One The mayor made the most ethical choice by refusing the proposal and scarifying the development of hundred jobs and million dollars to be able to consider 100 seniors and 30 employees respectfully. * * * Scenario Two With this scenario, is it the right decision for Catalina to tell that she had accomplished her sales goals so that she will be able to get her bonus? If Catalina were to make her boss aware of this...
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...disapprove of people being an individual. No one questions the logic of the leaders, including Equality, until the book concluded. He writes down his thoughts and feelings, knowing he is not allowed to, which causes him to question why they can not be who they want to be. Equality sets out on a personal journey to figure out answers why and once he gets those answers, his approving thoughts of the leaders change to critical and denouncing thoughts. Children are taught obedience, but maybe they are actually taught compliance. Equality complied for years...
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...Should people be given the right to die? Everyone gets the chance to live their life to the fullest, but at a certain point in life one realizes that their life is not worth living anymore and with the right to die, people are given the ability to do something about their realization on life. Brittany Maynard was diagnosed in 2014 with terminal brain cancer. It was a hassle for her to get treatment because of travel and changing her whole life just so she could possibly get better. Brittany was set on physician-assisted death and she was persistent for everyone, including herself to get to choose how he or she would choose to end his or her lives. “Brittany believed death is everyone’s own private destination for which they need to plan…There...
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