Ethics Study Review

1) Write a paper (1,250-1,500 words) that describes how to use the method of ethical decision making:
a) What are the dimensions of the ethical dilemma?
b) What are the issues?
c) Apply the four core ethical principles and the process of ethical decision making.
There are many complex ethical issues that can affect patients and families in the health care setting. One of which is end of life care. Decision making in terminal care is a demanding and stressful duty for all involved that can take place in any setting in which patients die in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and at home. For people reaching and the end of life, continuing to suffer may appear worse than death. The suffering can be so great that the option of ending one’s life through either euthanasia or physician assisted suicide may appear to be a reasonable and merciful choice. “Euthanasia is an act where a third party, usually implied to be a physician, terminates the life of a person; either passively or actively. 14 Euthanasia is also defined as “the mercy killing of the hopelessly ill, injured or incapacitated.” (Athar, 2006).

Active euthanasia requires performing some action that terminates the life of a person. An example of an active euthanasia intervention would be a situation where a physician would inject a patient with a lethal dose of a drug.14 In cases of voluntary, active euthanasia, a competent patient who wishes to avoid suffering and a slow dying process asks a physician to terminate his or her life. The concept of “death with dignity” or allowing patients to retain dignity as they die is a popular argument among those who support active euthanasia.14 Proponents of euthanasia basically build their position on two reasons: the first is self determination and respect for human autonomy, and the second is compassion and kindness to the patient with incurable disease. Then, terminating life at the request of an individual is not immoral because it is the individual’s decision.14 However, the opponents argue terminating human life is unethical because it violates either the moral belief that life should never be taken intentionally, or the basic human right not to be killed. I think that the key is intent. If you intend to relieve suffering sometimes you will inadvertently hasten the death. But the key is the intent.

The life is a gift of God and refusal of care or taking someones life is considered a big sin that would deteriorate everlasting afterlife. The Main issue here seems to be the answer to this question How should we die? Or should I say “when is it time to die? Here at the dawn of the twenty-first century, new technology and greater longevity together are enabling human beings to have more of a role in choosing the way we die. However common, though, end-of-life issues are among the most confusing ethical challenges confronting many families, doctors and lawmakers. Where is the line drawn between refusing efforts to prolong people's lives, and actually killing people because it's what they, their families, their doctors, the state, even an insurance company might choose.
Other important factors that may play a role in making crucial health decisions are poor people, non-English speakers, people with not much family, racial minority group members, and very old people as opposed to merely old people. these issues do come up when people of different cultures, for example, bring with them different cultural baggage.

most people would say, "Oh, I think I'd like to be at home, in a state of peace and comfort surrounded by family members in a familiar environment." But the reality is that most Americans end up dying in intensive care units.
A lot of reasons. There are a lot of societal and cultural barriers toward letting go, giving up, letting people go on their own terms.

Applying the four ethical principals of autonomy, beneficence, non malfeasance, and justice which are at the foundation of the guidelines, often helps to clarify the issues involved in a given situation. When caught in the middle of an ethical dilemma, examples repeatedly and obviously show that there is often no simple and easy way through. Ethics help us in a situation where there is no definitive right or wrong, or where the parties cannot agree on what is right and what is not (GCU Mod 1 reading). The process of decision making that describes how to use the method of ethical decision making, his combines the principles of utilitarianism, rights and justice and states the principles in terms of questions. “By answering these six questions, it should be possible to reach a decision.
What benefits & harms will each course of action produce? Which course of action will produce the greatest overall benefit for all stakeholders? What are the rights of stakeholders? Which course of action respects the rights of individuals? Which course of action treats people fairly and equally? Which course of action results in a fair distribution of benefits and burdens?” (clows)

How can we as individuals lessen the stress place on medical personnel and families meber when it comes to decision making time if the patient is unable to msake conscious decisions for themselves. With living will and/or advance directives, it is it with Doctor’s your experiences that will help engage the familyto get the discussion on the table and come to a deliberation for when they would like treatment withheld or continued. Doctors will provide specific and enough information to help in the situation. Whatever the case, I believe that the physicians really have to engage the families and get the discussions rolling in a dispassionate way and find out what this patient would really want instead of what the family… “thinks” they want. Sometimes the line may be considered rather vague, but I'm opposed to physician-assisted suicide. I'm opposed to euthanasia.

Reference

Athar SH. Euthanasia and physician–assisted suicide. Available at: http://www.islam-usa.com/e2.html.
Accessed April, 2006.

Mr Courtney Clowes. A critical Examination Of Ethical Decision Making Models. Available at: http://aux.zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/critical/html2/8062clowes.html

The Definition of Morality, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2005,
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/morality-definition/.