Ethical Issues Of Death And Dying - 1324 Words

Ethical Issues of Death and Dying There are many ethical issues that the medical field faces daily. One major issue that is a common debate recently is death and dying and the ethical dilemmas associated with this stage in life. There are many different routes a patient can take when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness, two routes that are often up for debate are palliative care and physician assisted suicide. Many ethical concepts are brought up in the debate of these routes of care, sometimes even conflicting one another. Since medicine has advanced over many years we are experiencing a growing population of elders. With this increase in the elderly population, the debate of death and dying has become an important topic to†¦show more content†¦Today we are face with death in a different setting then our ancestors, instead of dying at a younger age and dying in our home with our families, people are now dying at a hospital or in a medical setting. We are living longer because of the advances in medic ine, this is causing us to develop diseases that our ancestors never had to face. Our ancestors did not live long enough to develop some of the diseases we face today. As Jones (2011) provides, â€Å"we don’t just die of different diseases then our ancestors, we also die in different circumstances† (p. 302). The changes in circumstances have caused us to reevaluate what is believed to be ethical when faced with dying. There are many medical options a terminal ill or elderly patient that is dying can choose from, however there is great debate whether some of these options are ethical. With the many debates on what is and is not ethical with the end of life care, humans are faced with more ethical issues. All humans have an idea of what they believe to be moral or ethical. Looking at ethical concepts helps us as a society determined what treatment may be ethical or moral for a person during a chronic or terminal stage in their life. One ethical concept that plays a large role in death and dying is autonomy. The freedom for a patient to have control over their own health care decisions. If a patient has the ability to make informedShow MoreRelatedEthical and Legal Issues of Death and Dying2409 Words   |  10 PagesEthical and Legal Issues of Death and Dying Tracey Rentas Old Dominion University CHP 480 November 30, 2012 Dr. P. Lynch-Epps Abstract This was not easy to put this paper together. Recently my mother- in- law passed away, and her death was devastating to the entire family as well many friends. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and became dependent as she neared the end of life. All anyone of us could do was comfort her with our expression of loves while we tried to comprehend what wasRead MoreEthical and Bioethical Issues in Medicine: Death and Dying1385 Words   |  5 PagesEthical and Bioethical Issues in Medicine: Death and Dying Ethics, in medicine, is described as applying one’s morals and values to healthcare decisions (Fremgen 2012). It requires a critical-thinking approach that examines important considerations such as fairness for all patients, the impact of the decision on society and the future repercussions of the decision (Fremgen 2012). According to Fremgen (2012), bioethics concerns ethical issues discussed in the perspective of advanced medical technologyRead MoreEuthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide1629 Words   |  7 Pagessociety often contemplates what death will be like. Will death be peaceful or painful? How will our death affect the ones we love? It would seem that most people would desire to die with dignity. 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More and more Americans are speakingRead MoreEssay about End of Life Decisions719 Words   |  3 PagesWith anything that is done in the medical field there will be ethical issues that surround it. Since we are only on this earth for so long then death becomes one of those issues that we must face. With the new advancements in technology death can become complicated. Also since we have other issues such as euthanasia involved things will only get even more complicated. Euthanasia, definition of death, living will decisions, and ethical issues surrounding these subjects will be discussed. End of LifeRead MoreThe Moral Issue Of Euthanasia1212 Words   |  5 Pages1. For this assignment I chose the moral issue of Euthanasia. The case study is about a 20 year old woman dying of ovarian cancer and decides to be euthanized. I feel that this case was extremely relevant, especially with the rise of trend in today’s society. Euthanasia is currently a very popular thing that is continuing to grow in other states as congress decides whether or not to make it legal or refuse to pass it and keep it as illegal. I feel that by looking at this case study I hope toRead MoreHospice Services: A Valuable Resource within a Community1505 Words   |  6 Pagesand venue of care for those suffering from a terminal illness and for their families. The choice of hospice services and the approach of palliation of symptoms, comfort care, and the end of life can be difficult for a patient and family. The many issues that surround the concept of hospice care may cause the patient and f amily feelings of great sadness, grief, anticipatory grief, anger, defeat, loss, and many other complicated and gut wrenching thoughts and emotions (Chi Ho Chan Fong Tin, 2012)Read MoreThe Death Of Physician Assisted Suicide1731 Words   |  7 PagesDie With Dignity It is obvious this is a very controversial issue that is discussed daily by those who wish to die to avoid loss of dignity and also by those who think it could be immoral. For physician-assisted suicide to even be considered the patient must be of sound mind when they are requesting the physician-assisted suicide. To guarantee that the process is carried out correctly a doctor or a witness should be there to prove consciousness. The patient must be diagnosed with a terminal illnessRead MoreThe Legalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide1720 Words   |  7 PagesIt is obvious discussing physician-assisted suicide is a very controversial issue that is discussed daily by those who wish to die to avoid loss of dignity and also by those who think it is unethical. For physician-assisted suicide to even be considered, the patient must be of sound mind when they are requesting death with dignity. Physician-assisted suicide should be a legal option for people who are unable to end their own l ives. However, there should be safeguards to prevent any sort of abuseRead MoreAdvocacy And It s Role Of Cultural Diversity920 Words   |  4 PagesTabytha Balash Ohio University  Advocacy And It’s Role In Cultural Diversity Facing ethical dilemma’s is nothing new to nursing. As our society becomes more culturally diverse, cultural ethical dilemmas will become more common. Several dilemmas can be contributed to the lack of education or misunderstanding by the medical staff, and the patient’s own cultural values and beliefs. This paper will discuss an ethical dilemma encounter with another culture in my own nursing practice. An explanation