It is no secret that Canada’s modern day healthcare system is greatly struggling to find a middle way between proper health care that justifies against individual’s ethical values and way of life. Religious, legal and personal views are all factors in which help to create a barrier within the Canadian healthcare system. Over the years, trends dealing with Canadians ethical issues in healthcare have become more apparent to the public. As society continues to grow and evolve, people’s opinions are sprouting alongside, constantly altering in favour or against this controversial topic. The major issues society seems to have particular comments towards include stem cell research, euthanasia and birth control, thus sparking these religious, legal …show more content…
Religion holds a strong grip concerning the ethical issues in healthcare. Through the Bible we have the ability to learn what God believes to be ethical as well as unethical in healthcare. The Church’s views have developed with society, however, they have also remained unchanged on certain decisions on this topic. For instance, the churches point of views on euthanasia and stem cell research have not been improved under the influence of society, remaining the same for decades and most likely decades to come. Scriptures written by the church state the belief “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13), contradicting the act of both euthanasia and stem cell research. The creation of exodus has been around for a countless amount of years, and remains extremely crucial in Canada, …show more content…
The transformation the legal system had on the healthcare system mainly involved the use of euthanasia. Similarly, to many countries euthanasia remains illegal in Canada. Engraved within the Criminal Code of Canada, laws deeming euthanasia illegal remain significant. One of the laws that can be found states, “Everyone who a. counsels a person to commit, or b. aids or abets a person to commit suicide whether indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years” (Criminal Code, Section 241). Dying with Dignity in Canada also adds that 80% of Canadians are in favour of euthanasia, concluding the drastic change is this number, as many years ago this percentage was extremely lower. The Supreme Court is also said to be working on a decision in regards to the legalization of euthanasia in the future. In Accordance to the Toronto Right to Life Association, “Bill C-384, defeated in Parliament in April 2010, would have effectively legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. However, popular support for their legalization remains strong. The bill is attempted to amend sections 14, 222, and 241 of the Criminal Code, allowing physicians to actively aid in the suicides of their patients” (n.a; 2015). All of this information gathered, proves the effort in which Canadians are using to achieve legalization of
This shift effectively illustrates a trend toward a more community-based approach to care, and with an aging population it is becoming increasingly clearer to reformers that an institutional approach to health care is not something we can afford. This shift has furthermore caused many hospitals to downsize, and between 1994 and 1996, 85 percent of Canadians hospitals reduced their workforce by 10 percent. Professor Armstrong argues that this tendential shift perpetuates conditions that limit a woman’s access to care. Using the case of Pembroke Civic Hospital and Lowe v. Health Services Restructuring Commission (1997), Professor Armstrong attempts to illustrate just that. Wherein, the closure of Pembroke Civic Hospital was argued to restrict access to health services pertaining to sexuality, reproduction, and abortion. The reason being that these services would be left to the Catholic Hospital, which by religious code would have an obvious bias towards the provision of said services. Ultimately, however the Court rejected the argument due to a physician’s testimony of never experiencing any interference in carrying out his medical responsibilities, and the fact that neither hospital provided abortion as a service in the last 14 years. Consequentially, the Court’s rejection of this claim does not serve to
...nts in mind that show that Canada was not always the Human Rights Role Model that it has become during the twenty-first century. These events could be anything such as the disgraceful, and unprovoked, treatment of the Canadian-Japanese during the Second World War or the attempts to assimilate the Native Americans of Canada into Caucasian culture with the White Paper document. Even during the beginning of the twentieth century prejudices were held against immigrants, many were discriminated against and hated. With these horrendous events in mind it is amazing that a country, with such a troubled past, can possibly make up and become the Role Model for Human Rights that Canada is perceived as. These historically significant events have affected the way that Canada has developed and as such has helped to mould the country of Canada into what society knows it as.
Which decisions about dying are morally acceptable to concernd Christians, and which ones go beyond morally acceptable limits? Which medical practices and public policies allow for more humane treatment for those who are dying and which ones open the door to abuse and the violation of human dignity? Proposals in various states to legalize physician-assisted death [3] point to renewed interest in these old questions. ELCA members, congregations, and institutions need to address these questions through prayer and careful reflection.
Euthanasia has been a long debated subject consisting of many opinions and believes. For this paper I will be providing my rationale on why I am for legalization of active voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill clients in Canada. Active voluntary euthanasia should be legalized because it respects the individual’s choice, it allows individuals to flourish in their passing, and reduces the individual from further suffering. These are all important components of bioethics, and are all good reasons why euthanasia is not a negative thing. Active voluntary euthanasia is “the active killing of a dying person” requested by the client themselves (Collier & Haliburton, 2011, p. 226). In the paper I will also be discussing about virtue ethics, the principle of autonomy, and care ethics.
Even back in 1892 when Canada was much more conservative and Christian compared to today, there was many reports of women seeking abortions and upset due to the first Canadian Criminal Code that prohibits abortion and the sales, distribution and advertising of contraceptives. However this made sense due to Christian values. As Canada progressed and its culture changed, this law was considered outdated and was changed in 1969, contraceptives were allowed but abortions could only be performed under special circumstances. Many Canadians, particularly women and feminists disagreed with this law and believed it should be their own decision, not someone else and so many protests, petitions and illegal abortion clinics began, particularly by Dr. Henry Morgentaler. In the 1980’s most Canadians were pro-choice as a Gallup poll showed that 72% of Canadians believed that an abortion decision should only be decided by the pregnant woman and her doctor. By 1988, as previously mentioned, the law was abolished and all abortion restrictions removed. Now, there is talks of a law again yet Canadians have very mixed views on abortion whereas before 72% of Canadians wanted a change. The country must educate themselves more before a change is made to avoid the unrest it had before 1988. Many believe there should be restrictions to limit abortions in Canada yet compared to other democratic countries with abortion restrictions like Australia, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, excluding Ireland, and the United States have higher abortion rates per 1000 women between 15-44 years old than Canada according to Maclean's. Canada has had much more issues when abortion laws than it has had without them. There isn’t a clear majority supporting a specific change like last time and the restrictions aren’t needed anyways as there are no problems. Canada does not need abortion
Many people and nations around the world are deprived of human rights. The government in the countries or nations usually can not help the people being deprived. Either because the government is too poor to, it is not one of the things the government is looking into, or the government does not know or care. Because of this certain people, or even whole populations are denied human rights and their living conditions and way of life are usually not on the positive side of things. There are many wealthier countries trying to help but sometimes that is not enough. To what extent should Canada have a role in working to increase human rights protection in other nations?
As one knows, some unwanted pregnancies could often be harmful and distressing for a woman. Women should have the right over their body to choose to sustain the fetus or not. In the past decades, women did not have their freedom of abortion in many countries of the world. There have always been controversies going on about abortion. Each individual has dissimilar views on the legality of abortion. Some people are against abortion for personal religious purposes and beliefs. For those who don’t believe in abortion, it is because they see it as killing a fetus, which is a human being. Others support abortion because they believe in women’s rights. Laws of abortion vary in each country, and abortion is not legal all over the world. It is illegal under any conditions but only permitted to save woman’s life if in countries such as Brazil, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, and Ireland. However, abortion is legal without any restrictions in countries like Canada, Albania, and Italy. It the past decades Abortion was considered as criminal act in Canada. “If an abortion was carried out without such approval, the woman was liable for imprisonment for 2 years, an...
Canada’s Health Care system is gradually growing to be a major concern in today’s society with providing Canadians with the standard of care they deserve. Health care has become an issue because of the shortage of doctors in Canada; many of them are either going to the U.S.A. or going to other countries to practice in hospitals and clinics. The earning cap imposed by the government has forced doctors to work fewer hours than are necessary to serve the public. Many Canadians are without a doctor to help them with their needs and emergency rooms are filled to capacity with no available beds for those who have to be admitted to the hospital. Waiting time for specialist and specialty tests have become so long that someone diagnosed with a major illness may die before they can be properly treated. Nurses and others in the medical field are overworked and understaffed because the government has made cut-backs to the Health Care System. We live in a country where our health care is a privilege to have, but getting ill is becoming a problem if there is not adequate facilities and professionals to care for the sick. Today’s society is aging longer than ever and will need health care longer than before; patients recovering from hospital stays are being sent home more quickly than ever before, and terminal patients are being sent home for their last days.
As the years go by our society advances in all fields. As a result, we as a society have come to question many elements in our lives by comparing them to longstanding morals and traditions. The medical fields has always, and probably will always, raise many controversial issues. The latest concerns whether euthanasia or physician assisted suicide should be universally legalized in the U.S. Those opposed see that there are other alternatives other than taking a person’s own life, with the help of a doctor. Not only are they essential to incorporate into the options for people experiencing terminal illnesses, legalization would allow an overall upgrade in combating abuse with this treatment, at the same time, people are thoroughly against the
The words of an unborn baby are ones that almost no one ever thinks of, or hears. One of this country's most controversial topics is abortion. However, if one sees the constitutional infringement to women by the restriction of abortion; the torment to the unwanted child; and the anguish society has to sustain, then this topic would not be so debatable. Too many people do not see the effect that abortions cause. It is a very dangerous offence that affects the mother, father, the community, and most importantly, the fetus, and that is why abortion should be illegal in Canada. First, abortion is against God’s law in many Holy books such as the Bible and the Quran. Secondly, abortion does not only affect the individual, but the community as a whole, and the rights of those people are infringed on. However, abortion does nothing in the cases of rape, or women’s rights, which is the constant argument people in favour of abortion argue. And lastly, abortion should be seen for what it is, murder.
Pereira, J. (2011). Legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide: The illusion of safeguards and controls. Retrieved November 29, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070710/
Faith Community Hospital, an organization who's mission statement is to promote health and well-being of the people in the communities. They serve through the extent of services provided in collaboration with the partners who share the same vision and values. Though the mission statement is the model that everyone should be following, everyone does not think the same about every issue. We all may face similar situation at one point in time but the end result may be different for each individual because we all have different values and beliefs. There are many differences between ethics, laws, beliefs, and oaths that all affect the decisions from patients to staff members. Some patients refuse to take medical services and there are staff members who refuse to provide certain services due to those value lines. Some of the staff members are caring so much for the patients that they sometimes take radical positions to respond to their well-beings. In these situations medical intervention can conflict with religious beliefs or personal moral convictions. Hospital pharmacists are even taking positions which they believe to be important such as filling uninsured prescriptions by accepting payments in installments. Staff members in ICU initiated Do Not Resuscitate procedures with out written orders. Doctors are putting patients first from various interpretations. In "right to die" situations the doctors seem to be getting too involved in compassion and passions with their patients. We need to stay focused on what our jobs are and what we are promoting which is to provide healthcare and its services to members of the communities. Counselors are also treating some of their clients with no authorization of the values and beliefs they have. On the other hand, there are some staff members within the hospital who refuse to serve patients unless they have confirmed insurance coverage. If a patient is to pass away because of unauthorized decisions, this can cause a stir with the media as well as with current or future patients in the community.
Today, medical interventions have made it possible to save or prolong lives, but should the process of dying be left to nature? (Brogden, 2001). Phrases such as, “killing is always considered murder,” and “while life is present, so is hope” are not enough to contract with the present medical knowledge in the Canadian health care system, which is proficient of giving injured patients a chance to live, which in the past would not have been possible (Brogden, 2001). According to Brogden, a number of economic and ethical questions arise concerning the increasing elderly population. This is the reason why the Canadian society ought to endeavor to come to a decision on what is right and ethical when it comes to facing death. Uhlmann (1998) mentions that individuals’ attitudes towards euthanasia differ. From a utilitarianism point of view – holding that an action is judged as good or bad in relation to the consequence, outcome, or end result that is derived from it, and people choosing actions that will, in a given circumstance, increase the overall good (Lum, 2010) - euthanasia could become a means of health care cost containment, and also, with specific safeguards and in certain circumstances the taking of a human life is merciful and that all of us are entitled to end our lives when we see fit.
Thus, despite the arguments against euthanasia, patients’ lives should not be deprived of well-being, comfort or dignity. “In the last stage of life, every person is entitled to a high standard of care and a stable environment in which his or her privacy is respected” (Policy Options, 2013). A lot of the time, patients with terminal illnesses are thought of as ‘better off dead’ or ‘not the person they used to be’. This is all the more the reason why euthanasia should be legalized in Canada. The government should relax current laws and allow doctors to participate in assisted suicide if need be and are willing. If people suffering with terminal illnesses want to die peacefully and not endure painful procedures or live off machines whilst also helping society out money wise, the option should be available.
Williams, J. R., Lowy, F., & Sawyer, D. M. (1993). Canadian physicians and euthanasia: 3. Arguments and beliefs . Ethical Issues, 10, 1699-1702.