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End of life decision making essay
Medical ethics in death and dying
Case study: End of life decision final student paper
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Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine defines palliative care as what happens at the end of life when a cure is no longer possible. (Virginia P. Tilden, 2004) Hospice can be traced back to medieval times referring back to a shelter or a rest for the weary. The term hospice was first given to specialized care for dying patients by Dr. Dame Cicely Sunders in 1948 who created the first modern hospice St. Christopher's Hospice in London. In 1993, President Clinton's health care reform proposal guaranteed benefits for hospice nationally. Hospice is now an accepted part of the health care continuum. End of life, final hours of life, whatever one wants to call it; everyone will go through it. Knowing we all will die at some point in our lives research has shown that we want to die free of pain, at home, and have our symptoms managed. In doing this we need to look at what "a good death" or what "a …show more content…
These people would choose to live if given the choice; however, they are not given this choice. Our physicians are white robed knights battling death with ever option of technology at their finger tips, often unaware of the wishes of the dying patient. In a joint venture our knights in shining amour need to be involved with their patients caring for their bodies, minds and spiritual paths. Do our physicians hesitate in irradiating a patients torment through the ultimate act of compassion? Does a physicians holistic beliefs lean either way? Our doctors need to grant patients the ultimate control over what has become their last earthly possession, the right to die on their own terms. (Benda, 2007) With today's technology, physicians find themselves struggling with a modern dilemma of deciding whether impending life-sustaining treatments should be withheld or provided. Medical professionals take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to fulfill to the best of their ability to tread with care in matters of life and death. Above all, they must
Many people are unaware of what Hospice does and where they can find one, but Hospices have actually been around since the Middle Ages. People living during the time made shelters where they took in weary people who had no place to go. They called these places “Hospices” (History of Hospice). Later on, Dame Cicely Saunders had an idea to expand these places. Dame Cicely Saunders served as a nurse during World War II (The National Hospice Foundation). After watching all of the soldiers suffering during the war, Saunders was devastated to see all of those men die painful deaths. This sparked the idea for Saunders to create a place where people could peacefully die. She would call this place “Hospice”. The first Hospice was established in London in 1967 (The National Hospice Foundation). After opening the London Hospice, Saunders decided she wa...
Intro: The Hippocratic Oath clearly states, “I will not give a drug that is deadly to anyone if asked [for it], nor will I suggest the way to such counsel.”Steven Miles, a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School published an article, “The Hippocratic Oath,” expressing that doctors must uphold the standards of the Hippocratic Oath to modern relevance. Euthanasia continues as a controversial policy issue. Providing resourceful information allows us to recognize what is in the best interest for patients and doctors alike. Today, I will convince you that physician-assisted suicide should be illegal. The United States must implement a policy stopping the usage of euthanasia for the terminally ill. I will provide knowledge of
One Work Cited This essay will present the views of that worldwide organization named Hospice which has seen the quiet, natural death of millions of terminally ill patients - without the use of physician-assisted suicide. It is important that the voice of the largest caregiver for the terminally ill be heard, and listened to attentively. For they have the most experience. The Hemlock Society is nothing (in scope, importance, goals)in comparison to this great Hospice Organization (HO).
Hospice always patient and families the automaty to decide a choice of end of life care. It allows who prefer to end life in their homes, pain free, surrounded by family and loved ones: Hospice works to make this happen. The focus in on caring, not curing. Hospice utilizes an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and trained volunteers that address symptom control, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes. Hospice is not “giving up,” nor is it a form of euthanasia or physician assisted
EX1 Moreover, a good example of the irrelevance of the Oath in modern medics is the statement that a doctor may never “use the knife”, without using knifes, practicing modern surgery would be impossible (Markel, 2004). CR2 In the most Oaths administered by US medical schools, the parts about euthanasia are simply omitted, EV2 by 1993 only 14 percent of the vows taken by students prohibited euthanasia (Markel, 2004), IC this demonstrates that even if the Hippocratic Oath is the moral touchstone of physicians, most Oaths taken by students do not even prohibit euthanasia. CR3 Sometimes in order to safeguard the mysterious power and dignity of life, it is better to administer a soft death to avoid further suffering, EV3 this is also literally stated in the Hippocratic Oath: “I will keep my patients from harm and injustice”(Edelstein, 1967). C Considering all of the reasons mentioned above, the Hippocratic Oath has clearly lost its relevance regarding the prohibition of
For hundreds of years a doctor was sworn into practice with the Oath of Hippocrates. Although in the present time parts of the oath have oath has come into question on how they should be interrupted. "To do no harm," the question is what does one consider harm? With our modern technology in medicine our medical community has the ability to prolong a person's life for quite awhile. So the question now is to prolong a person's life that is suffering or basically alive from life support harmful? Or is ending that person's suffering harmful? Death is just another part of life. We are born, we live and then we die. But who is the one that decides when, where and how we die? Another question is ethics and morals, what is the difference between killing someone and letting them die?
Dealing with death on a regular basis can take a toll on a person. Being a hospice nurse will never be easy and is certainly not for the faint of heart. A hospice nurse watches patient’s health decline, often times very rapidly, and many times sit by the patient’s side as they pass away. It can be exhausting both emotionally and physically. You need to have a big heart and a strong will to help those in need for the occupation. Sara Schmidt certainly never saw herself in the profession, but discovered that she has a true love for helping people.
There is great debate in this country and worldwide over whether or not terminally ill patients who are experiencing great suffering should have the right to choose death. A deep divide amongst the American public exists on the issue. It is extremely important to reach an ethical decision on whether or not terminally ill patients have this right to choose death, since many may be needlessly suffering, if an ethical solution exists.
Over the ages our society has changed the definition of the meaning of dating. During the early 20th century and WWII dating was about long-term friendships, love, marriage and families. The essay “ Dating as Competition” by Beth Bailey illustrates how dating over time has changed dramatically by making dating into a competition. He argues that dating now in days is about popularity, competition and no longer has a moral meaning and how Men and women tend to want to be seen with people who will boost their image. In society many people build their reputation and popularity through cars, clothes, frat and sorority memberships and money. Being seen with someone who is just as popular with the same materialistic things will only increase your popularity. Through my experiences and observations I agree dating has changed and no longer has meaning because people date each other for the wrong reasons. I have witnessed many of my own friends who date to boost their appearance. Many actors and actresses that I look up to also marry or date other famous people so that they can show to the social media that their life is nothing but perfect. Not only are they rich and famous but they also want to marry or date someone who is idolized by many just as they are. Which also increases their personal image. Also Internet social websites are now being designed to find people mates who will match their popularity. Therefore dating has changed and no longer has the same meaning as it did before in the early ages.
Hospice Care refers to the focus on quality of care and life rather than treatment and curative options for someone and their disease. This type of care includes not only the patient, but also their family and physician. Dame Cicely Saunders states, “You matter because of who you are. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.” With this quote, Saunders reflects what Hospice believes in and their commitment, or duty, for the patient. Patients who are terminally ill can be considered as patients with cancer, diabetes, and many more diseases. Very few cancer patients have a type of cancer that has a known cure, and unlike those patients many other cancer patients possess a type of cancer that is curable today. Terminally ill patients have to choose between continuing treatment or being provided with Hospice Care. Both hope and Hospice means that the patient can have both the benefit from treatments, which give them hope that the disease could be cured or at least reduce the symptoms, and Hospice Care, which provides the patients with relieve of pain and
Having the title of a physician holds a great deal of weight, and many obligations. One of doctor 's most important duties is to accommodate his or her patients to the fullest making him or her as comfortable as possible while trying to alleviate all pain in a timely fashion. In certain situations(mostly in the elderly and terminally ill) a doctor is not able to eliminate all pain forcing the patient to live out the last moments of his or her life in agony and misery. Unfortunately, from time to time an individual’s last option should he or she wish to die peacefully would be death. Although assisted suicide seems like a situation where far more problems are created rather than solutions(which is why many encourage assisted suicide to remain
The history and name hospice got its name from hospitality. In 1967, Dr. Cecily Saunders evented the first hospice was which was used for people who were terminally ill. However, the Hasting center Report, shows that in 1973, hospice emerges in the United State, and was used as a concept of care and not a place of care. Hospice upholds life and neither speeds nor postpones death. They offer palliative care to people with end of stage of life regardless of their age, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation, etc. Hospice believes that proper care to the community will help patients and their families to be mentally and spiritually prepared for the death of their love ones. They provide 24/7 care in either home or facility base setting. The care of hospice is for patients who have chronic illness and have six month or less to live (NHPCO, 2012). Opiates mediation is used to treat pain. Hospice offer palliative care service to their patients to improve the quality of life. The primary goal is to control patient’s pain, symptoms management, and improve the quality of life (NHPCO, 2012). Hospice also provides bereavement services for families who have lost their love one. This is to help the family to cope with death. The bereavement services last for about a year or thirteen months after patients die. Families are offered individual counseling or support group (NHPCO, 2012).
Overall the need for a better based end of life care strategy is warranted globally. More of a focus should be given on care and high quality service for patients. As of now too much decision lies with the healthcare professionals and this can lead to faulty decision making because the health care providers are doing what they believe is in our best interest. In reality the patient or ourselves only have the true idea how we would like our final days to be carried out. By developing and carrying out an end of care plan we can take the decision making out of the family and doctors and place it on the patient. By all counts the need for change is apparent within the healthcare industry in regards to end of life care. By considering this unique change a great deal of improvement can be derived from this decision making process.
Some feel that a terminally ill patient should have a legal right to control the manner in which they die. Physicians and nurses have fought for the right to aid a patient in their death. Many families of the terminally ill have exhausted all of their funds caring for a dying patient and would prefer the option of assisted suicide to bankruptcy. While there are many strong opposing viewpoints, one of the strongest is that the terminally ill patient has the right to die in a humane, dignified manner. However, dignity in dying is not necessarily assured when a trusted doctor, whose professional ethics are to promote and maintain life, injects a terminally ill patient with a lethal dose of morphine.
Palliative care “focuses more broadly on improving life and providing comfort to people of all ages with serious, chronic, and life-threatening illnesses” (http://www.WebMD.com). Palliative care is not the same as hospice, since it is not only for the dying. According ...