...A Good Death ENG 155 Advanced Composition For the terminally ill, death in advanced modern societies can often be described as undignified. Terminally ill patients are frequently connected to machines, tubes, and a variety of other life-support equipment. They experience intolerable pain that would be inconceivable to a healthy individual. The terminally ill patient is often left with no option other than to die in an impersonal medical institution. They are unable to get out of bed, feed themselves or even go to the bathroom without assistance. As reported recently in a survey issued by the National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, “Many of the 550,000 American patients who die of cancer each year spend their last days in distress, suffering from pain, nausea, fatigue and depression” (Toufexis). In such circumstances there is no means for a terminally ill patient to sustain their dignity in the dying process. Unfortunately, much of the misery suffered by the terminally ill is done so needlessly. Surveys indicate that along with the loss of a patient’s dignity and quality of life is the fear of facing death in uncontrollable pain. A recent survey by the National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine And National Research Council indicated that, nine million Americans are now living with cancer and about...
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...SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 Discursive Essay Outline Essay question: Should the whole world recognize physician-assisted suicide? I. Introduction Thesis statement: Euthanasia would be recognized by the entire world because physician-assisted suicide leads to easily leaving our world without any pain and suffering and it is another case of freedom of choice. However, mercy-killing is contrary to the Hippocratic Oath. II. Body A. Main idea 1: Euthanasia changes view of life, thereby helps not to be afraid of pain before death 1. It improves quality of life. 2. The best way to relieve the pains. 3. Death is the opposite of life, but the process of dying is part of life. B. Main idea 2: Physician-assisted suicide is another case of freedom of choice 1. If the dying process is unpleasant, people should have the right to shorten it. 2. Countries which protect rights of their citizens. C. Main idea: Mercy-killing is contrary to the Hippocratic Oath. 1. Doctor’s job is to protect and save life. 2. Providing deadly drugs is contrary to the oath. III. Conclusion Everything goes to the fact that euthanasia will be recognized by the entire world, however, medical professionals are not in hurry to make the most important decision, which is related to euthanasia. It has been argued that euthanasia is one of the most pressing social problems of our times. This mercy killing is often referred as an easy and painless death. A review of current scientific materials...
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...of many news broadcast and political debates. However, one that seems is not on the front position would be Euthanasia, or Physician-assisted suicide (PAS). Currently, only four states have legalized PAS: Montana, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. These states have strict guidelines one must follow in order to end their life with the help of a physician. They include eligibility requirements, physician protocols, and timelines that must be followed. Support for such a practice varies from person to person. Political and religious factors certainly play a role in the way people view euthanasia. Euthanasia should be the patient's choice. The word Euthanasia stems from a Greek word that can be translated "a good death." Euthanasia can be classified into two different categories, active and passive (The Free Dictionary)( Types of Euthanasia). Passive euthanasia is when a patient does not receive life sustaining treatments, such as medications, tube feedings or mechanical ventilation, that result in the patient's death. Passive euthanasia is legal in all states in the form of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders. Patients are also legally allowed to refuse any types of treatment or therapy they would like, even if it results in their death. This practice is generally approved of in our society. Active euthanasia, which is much more controversial, is when a physician intervenes on behalf of the patient with the intent of ending their life. Active and passive euthanasia can then be split...
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...Eugenics To Euthanasia This essay presents the appeal which euthanasia has to modern society. What is this appeal based on? Is it a valid appeal? These and other questions are addressed in this paper. See if this story sounds familiar: A happily married couple - she is a pianist; he a rising scientist - have their love suddenly tested by a decline in the wife's health. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she falls victim to a steady loss of muscle control and paralysis. The desperate husband uses all his professional skills to save her. But ultimately he must watch her deteriorate in hideous pain. The wife worries that she will soon no longer be "a person anymore - just a lump of flesh - and a torture" for her husband. She begs her husband to kill her before that happens. And eventually, worn down, the reluctant husband releases his wife from her misery with poison. The husband is indicted for murder. But the understanding judge and jury soon agree that, given the circumstances, the husband is not a killer, and the law needs to be reformed. Meanwhile, in impassioned public comments, the husband attacks "the proponents of outmoded beliefs and antiquated laws" who inflict unnecessary anguish on the terminally ill, "who suffer without hope and whose death would be deliverance for them." The story fits comfortably with today's medical headlines. It could easily be a 20/20 segment or a page from Jack Kevorkian's latest trial. But it comes from another...
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...including politicians, priests, and doctors have many moral objections to the topic. Euthanasia is as a matter of fact, humanly wrong, and goes against civilizations most sacred laws. Thus, what is Euthanasia? Legalizing euthanasia is an important step towards person’s freedom? Euthanasia is also known as mercy killing. What euthanasia simply gives is a better ending to those patients who seem to not have any deserving end. There are various ways of practicing it, and many definitions around it have born. A pro-euthanasia group defines assisted suicide as when someone provides the means (drugs or other agents) by which a person can take his or her own life. There also exists what is called as physician-assisted suicide, in which a doctor prescribes lethal drugs in order to free the patient from there unbearable life. Medical professional codes have long prohibited physician involvement in assisting a patient's suicide. However, despite ethical and legal prohibitions, calls for the liberalization of this ban have grown in recent years. “Presently the majority of states in America have laws against assisting suicide despite suicide and attempted suicide, are no longer considered crimes.” On February 27, 2009 a wealthy business couple ended their lives together at a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland, according to CNN reports. Prince Charles has sent a condolence message...
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...United Church of Christ: The Church affirms individual freedom and responsibility. It has not asserted that hastened dying is the Christian position, but the right to choose is a legitimate Christian decision. Mainline and Liberal Christian denominations: Pro-choice statements have been made by the United Church of Christ, and the Methodist Church on the US West coast. The 'Episcopalian (Anglican) Unitarian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Quaker movements are amongst the most liberal, allowing at 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...
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...Assisted Suicide Teresa Grass PHI200: Mind and Machine Instructor: David Tredinnick June 25, 2012 My point of view on assisted suicide I believe it a sin. In the Holy Bible the “Ten Commandments” it is written “thou shalt not kill.” I stand on the concept that dismissing a person life before it’s his/her time is truly not right. I believe that no matter whom you or what position you may hold doesn’t give you the right to play God. Due to the obvious extent of self-interest that an individual have in their own personal choices; in this day in our culture people as usual try to seek out assured circumstances in such an upright and surprising ways. It was once said that for the ones that are extremely disabled this type of reaction bring forth a common sense of expectation. I do believe that this not right at all because even when a person is suffering under countless circumstances, they desire for this person to go through life-threating operations along with the pain and suffering. It should be that person owns choice for Euthanasia but only during those cases that are so extreme. Suicide has become a vital part of our everyday lives, but through assisted suicide from doctors we have the aptitude to keep suicide to a lessor level to the families that are involved. Assisted suicide is wrong. It is stated in the Ten Commandments “thou shalt not kill”, so with this said I believe that Assisted Suicide is definitely wrong. Many may say that the bible...
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...Quarelli English 2 Project Part C1 Claim 1 Physician-assisted suicide is currently illegal in all but four states in America; however, it should be legal in all fifty. Suicide of any kind is generally a last resort for very desperate people who are suffering. Any patient with a painful terminal illness should be able to have the option to end their suffering prematurely instead of living out their days in agony and despair. Pancreatic cancer is one such disease; patients experience intense pain in their upper abdomen and their back and there is currently no cure for this disease. The pain that is encountered is excruciating and can be eased with medication, but generally only for a little while and severe pain is still felt. Trigeminal neuralgia is an example of another such condition, it is a neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face stemming from the trigeminal nerve. There is no cure and triggers as slight as the wind or a high pitched sound can stimulate an episode, it is also described as among the most painful diseases known to mankind. There are many other illnesses similar to these that no one should have to tolerate, especially if there are safer and relatively easier ways for someone to end their agony. Forcing someone to spend their life miserably and in constant pain is not something that can be justified. Every doctor must take an oath to do no harm, but assisted suicide, in the appropriate circumstances, is not doing harm...
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...way for reasons of mercy". Assisted suicide is one of the forms of euthanasia. However, generally, assisted suicide and euthanasia are taken for one and the same thing. According to Boylan (2000) in classic Greek, euthanasia means “good death” (p. 195). It is also, generally, known as mercy killing, which involves taking an action that will end the life of a patient that is afflicted with a terminal disease characterized by intense suffering which will surely result in the patient’s death. Richardson (2002) explains euthanasia as being divided into two different categories: active and passive. Active, also referred to as commission, is the act of bringing about one’s death; passive, or omission, is intentionally withholding a life-saving medical procedure, therefore allowing them to die. All of these are done with merciful intentions, and intentions to help the suffering person, it raises profound issues of importance for society, the medical profession and nursing. Physicians are frequently faced with the question of whether or not assisted suicide is ethical or immoral. There is an ongoing legal battle; the theoretical and practical parameters of euthanasia and assisted suicide are still debatable in society today. Although assisted suicide is currently illegal in almost all states in America, few states like Montana, Washington and Oregon legally support this idea (Derek Humphry, 2005). The group that is fighting against the physician assisted suicide (PAS) argue, that there...
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...Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide debate Mary Gundersen HCA 322 November 18, 2013 Linda Hoppe Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide debate Euthanaisa and assisted suicide are heated battle, in which lines have been drawn between warning social, religious, and political groups. Several individuals want this controversial institution erased from the volumes of lawful medicine, but others say that should be able to choose our fates in extreme cases. Either the law makers, neither the country, nor the citizens could find a solution to this debate without causing an intense opposition and the possibility for an end to this war of ethics seems very far in the distance. The definition of euthanasia is a painless killing, especially to end a painful and incurable disease; mercy killing. This intentional termination of life by another is at the request of the person who dies because like so many other religious, social, and political terms, euthanasia has various meanings. The passive euthanaisa is defines the hastening of death of a person by withdrawing several types of support and letting nature take it is course, instance of his are, removing life support systems, stopping medical procedures, stopping food, and water, not delivering CPR and letting the patient’s heart stop. The several common form of passive euthanaisa is to give a person large doses of morphine to control pain despite the likely hood that the pain killer would suppress respiration, thus causing death earlier than normal...
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...the right to die. There are three forms of assisted suicide. They are passive, active, and physician assisted suicide. The removals of life support, stopping medication, stopping food or water, and to stop resuscitation all passive types of assisted suicide. Active assisted suicide is a request from a dying individual to be put to death. It can also be a mercy killing. This is also called euthanasia. It is committed when someone other than the patient ends the patient’s life out of mercy (CBS News). Physician assisted suicide applies to a lethal dose of medication or other information supplied to a dying patient by a physician. All of these forms of assisted suicide have caused much debate and controversy throughout the world. In 1997, Oregon passed the Death with Dignity Act that gives terminally ill patients the right to obtain lethal doses of medication from a physician to aid in their suicide. This act prohibits a physician or any other patient from directly administering a medication to end another’s life (DWDA). Patients must adhere to many requirements before receiving this medication. The patient must be: -An adult (18 years of age or older) -A resident of Oregon -Capable (defined as able to make and communicate health care decisions) -Diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months -The patient must make two oral requests to his or her physician, separated by at least 15 days...
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...The word euthanasia is a combination of the Greek prefix Eu, which means “good,” and “thanatos,” meaning “death. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “the act or practice of killing individuals that are hopelessly sick or injured for reasons of mercy. Euthanasia or “mercy killing” as they more commonly call it is a highly debated topic that has many aspects. Financial, moral, social, and most important, legal concerns are raised whenever euthanasia is brought up. The controversy surrounding euthanasia can only be resolved when the procedure is legalized with mandatory, regulatory guidelines put in place to enable both physicians and individuals to decide the best course of action for themselves without fear. An individual’s view of euthanasia is influenced by religious and personal beliefs, current law, and medical assistance. The moral debate involves religion and other societal beliefs. Everyone has their own morals and values, which is their God-given, constitutional right. In America, our society’s morals are based in part on religious beliefs. Most religions, especially Christian religions, feel that taking life is wrong and against God’s commandments. The Catholic Church feels strongly about euthanasia and encourages both the Catholic congregation and United States politicians to maintain the illegal status of euthanasia (Christian Medical Fellowship). Various religions impose their beliefs and morals on the individual causing more confusion. In Euthanasia: The Battle for...
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...Assisted Suicide In ancient Greece and Rome, views toward infanticide, active euthanasia, and suicide were not only tolerated, but accepted. Many ancient Greeks, Romans and Pagan Physicians performed frequent abortions as well as both voluntary and involuntary mercy killings. During these early times, it made more sense to support voluntary death rather than prolonged agony, and physicians complied by giving their patients the poisons they requested. The ancients stressed the deliberate intent to die, provided that it was done for the right reasons; for example, to end the affliction caused by a terminal illness. Indeed, in classical Athens, the city judges kept a supply of toxic for anyone who wished to end there suffering. So how has this affected our society today? Should this act be tolerated? Should this offense be legal? During the Holocaust, assisted suicide played an immense role which later demonstrated the apparent danger of following such a sequence. Unfortunately Americans are prone to short term memory and thus the debate has risen again. With the legalization of assisted suicide, must come an abundant amount of restrictions. Restrictions need to include an age limit on the patient, time passed after being diagnosed that the request will be considered, mandatory health screenings, physically and mentally, screening of the physician that will be administering the lethal dosage. A background check needs to be performed on the family and close friends to prevent...
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...Legalizing the Right to Your Own Life The term assisted suicide refers to the practice of a physician giving a patient, per their request, a prescription for a lethal drug which the patient would consume as a means of ending their own life. Assisted suicide should be legalized for any and all people who seek this out in order to put an end to their life. People deserve to have a right to their own bodies and lives, so if they choose to put an end to it, they should not be restricted in their access to a way of doing so. Much of the debate over whether assisted suicides should be legalized has to do with whether people have the right to die along with the right to live, whether or not people should have to suffer, the Hippocratic Oath that physicians have to abide by, and religious standpoints. Many of these arguments have an ethical grounding, and deal with the morality of the action of a suicide. Originally, assisted suicide was known as, or synonymous with euthanasia, which is the killing of a person out of and by a doctor’s mercy for that person. Many people tend to equate euthanasia with physician assisted suicide because both involve having the help of a physician. However, physician assisted suicide differs from euthanasia because it requires the patient’s consent and an evaluation of the patient before the patient is given a prescription for lethal drugs. The practice of an assisted suicide where it is currently legal, involves a patient who is terminally ill, and has...
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...to be part of Euthanasia, which is considered being “the Right to Die”. So what is Euthanasia? In Greek language, the word “Euthanasia” eu means "good" and thanatos means "death". One meaning given to the word is "the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies." Therefore, the term euthanasia practically means that the act must be initiated or agreed upon by the person who wishes to commit suicide. But as a disagreement, some people define euthanasia to include both voluntary and involuntary termination of life. In his book Unplugged: Reclaiming Our Right to Die in America, William Colby states that "euthanasia" defines multiple meanings and yet, leads to a massive confusion. For example, for today’s world, it is defined as the “intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit.” This literally means that if death is not intended, then it is not an act of euthanasia. Others would also recognize it as “mercy killing” or “physician-assisted suicide”. Now many will ask themselves how it is affecting our society and the ethics involved with Euthanasia. Moreover, this procedure of Euthanasia not only affects the moralities of human beings but also the important role of the medical practice. My major is to become a nurse in the medical field. And, I believe that my role as a nurse is to prevent patients from dying, that is, of course, also the goal of the...
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