Ethical dilemmas are very common in healthcare. Healthcare professionals and patients apply certain decision-making models to assist in making the right decision (“Lecture 6”, 2014). There are three main decision-making models known as Nash’s 12 Questions for Moral Choices, Kidder’s Ethical Checkpoints, and Uustal’s Decision-Making Model (“Lecture 6”, 2014). With regards to the given ethical dilemma regarding a terminally ill patient who is considering physician-assisted suicide, Kidder’s Ethical Checkpoints would be a good theory to suggest to the patient. This will be expressed throughout a letter to the patient. Other factors surround the ethical dilemma such as a doctor’s power to end life, a living will, and technology will also be discussed.
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However, there are also other options such as experimenting with other pain management options, palliative care, and/or a support group (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017; Get Palliative Care, 2017). These options may be better suited for you. So, before you make a decision, I would strongly advise you to consider some steps. First, since we know what the dilemma is and that you can make the decision for yourself, gather more information and facts on the situation and options (“Lecture 6”, 2014). This will give you a better background and knowledge when making a final decision (SAGE Publications, 2009). Next, test the different options for right-versus-wrong issues (“Lecture 6”, 2014). In other words, do any of the options violate moral codes (“Lecture 6”, 2014)? In addition, test for right-versus-right values to see if …show more content…
It is used when someone is unable to communicate their decision (Randolph, 2017). This will should be used whenever a person is in this state regardless of what the family wants (Randolph, 2017). It is what the patient wants (Cali, 1997). Therefore, whatever is stated in the living will, is what the end-of-life decision is. (Randolph, 2017) This will impact my healthcare career because I will need to follow these at several points throughout my career. This is especially evident with suicide because it may be stated in their will that that is what they want.
Technology
The increased use of technology in healthcare complicates the dying process because there is so much technology that can keep people alive who would not be able to sustain life without being attached to a machine (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). Not only does it help people stay alive, but it also makes it easier to choose suicide because there is technology that assists in that as well (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). This will impact my healthcare career because I will need to educate patients on all the options, even if I disagree with them.
However, there are also other options such as experimenting with other pain management options, palliative care, and/or a support group (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017; Get Palliative Care, 2017). These options may be better suited for you. So, before you make a decision, I would strongly advise you to consider some steps. First, since we know what the dilemma is and that you can make the decision for yourself, gather more information and facts on the situation and options (“Lecture 6”, 2014). This will give you a better background and knowledge when making a final decision (SAGE Publications, 2009). Next, test the different options for right-versus-wrong issues (“Lecture 6”, 2014). In other words, do any of the options violate moral codes (“Lecture 6”, 2014)? In addition, test for right-versus-right values to see if …show more content…
It is used when someone is unable to communicate their decision (Randolph, 2017). This will should be used whenever a person is in this state regardless of what the family wants (Randolph, 2017). It is what the patient wants (Cali, 1997). Therefore, whatever is stated in the living will, is what the end-of-life decision is. (Randolph, 2017) This will impact my healthcare career because I will need to follow these at several points throughout my career. This is especially evident with suicide because it may be stated in their will that that is what they want.
Technology
The increased use of technology in healthcare complicates the dying process because there is so much technology that can keep people alive who would not be able to sustain life without being attached to a machine (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). Not only does it help people stay alive, but it also makes it easier to choose suicide because there is technology that assists in that as well (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). This will impact my healthcare career because I will need to educate patients on all the options, even if I disagree with them.