Pain management is an integral aspect of health care, especially in the case of end-of-life patients. For many of these patients Hospice care is provided to ease their passing. “Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and in most cases care is provided in the patient's home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities” (Hospice Care. (2015, July 23)). When it comes to treating these patients for pain, it comes from a different position than other forms of pain management. When it comes to Hospice care and pain management, the use of medication and other management agents, the side effects and quality of life, as well as the idea of Physician-Assisted Suicide are
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They can cause symptoms like nausea, grogginess, constipation, itching, and confusion. The good news is that most of the side effects can be managed quite easily with other medicines, and they usually go away on their own after a few days. If a person continues to have difficulty with one particular opiate medicine, the person can usually be switched to another alternative opiate that may not cause problems” (Arenella, C. (2014, April 14). Alongside the possible side effects, the general quality of life for the patients should also be considered. This is where ethics and morality come into play. While you may never want a patient to be in pain, what kind of a life is lying in bed zoned out from the world? Pain management for terminally ill patients should be geared towards easing pain and suffering, while still allowing them to engage with family and the people around them. This is like walking along the edge of a knife, too far in either direction will ruin what you’re trying to accomplish. “Physicians have an obligation to relieve pain and suffering and to promote the dignity of dying patients in their care” Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. (2004, March …show more content…
Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. also write that most physicians are likely to receive a request for PAS and they accordingly should be able to deal with these requests. Every physician needs to respond to the needs and expectations of the patient; they should also provide the best possible care that is both ethical and legal. Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. (2004, March 25). “The federal government and all 50 states and the District of Columbia prohibit euthanasia under general homicide laws. The federal government does not have assisted suicide laws. Those laws are generally handled at the state level. As of October 5th 2015, there are 5 states that have legalized PAS including California, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington” ProCon.org. (2015, October 5). In contrast to the PAS debate, the right to palliative care is uniformly acknowledged. The same US Supreme Court Justices’ concurring opinions supported the right of all Americans to receive quality palliative care” Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. (2004, March
They can cause symptoms like nausea, grogginess, constipation, itching, and confusion. The good news is that most of the side effects can be managed quite easily with other medicines, and they usually go away on their own after a few days. If a person continues to have difficulty with one particular opiate medicine, the person can usually be switched to another alternative opiate that may not cause problems” (Arenella, C. (2014, April 14). Alongside the possible side effects, the general quality of life for the patients should also be considered. This is where ethics and morality come into play. While you may never want a patient to be in pain, what kind of a life is lying in bed zoned out from the world? Pain management for terminally ill patients should be geared towards easing pain and suffering, while still allowing them to engage with family and the people around them. This is like walking along the edge of a knife, too far in either direction will ruin what you’re trying to accomplish. “Physicians have an obligation to relieve pain and suffering and to promote the dignity of dying patients in their care” Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. (2004, March …show more content…
Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. also write that most physicians are likely to receive a request for PAS and they accordingly should be able to deal with these requests. Every physician needs to respond to the needs and expectations of the patient; they should also provide the best possible care that is both ethical and legal. Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. (2004, March 25). “The federal government and all 50 states and the District of Columbia prohibit euthanasia under general homicide laws. The federal government does not have assisted suicide laws. Those laws are generally handled at the state level. As of October 5th 2015, there are 5 states that have legalized PAS including California, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington” ProCon.org. (2015, October 5). In contrast to the PAS debate, the right to palliative care is uniformly acknowledged. The same US Supreme Court Justices’ concurring opinions supported the right of all Americans to receive quality palliative care” Emanuel, L., & Von Gunten, C. (2004, March