• Home Page
  • End Of Life Choice Research Paper

End Of Life Choice Research Paper

Improved Essays
Show More
End of Life Choice
In the 2016 election ballot distributed to Colorado residents there is a section in regards to active euthanasia. The proposition asks if there should be a change in the revised statutes to permit any mentally capable adult who has a medical prognosis of death by a terminal illness within six months to receive a prescription from a physician for the purpose to end the individuals’ life. Colorado residents are able to buy property, divorce, and have an abortion, but are not allowed to choose when or how they will die. Today, euthanasia has become an international issue up for debate. The process of dying and what signifies a dignified death is different for each individual therefore euthanasia may be the right choice in certain …show more content…
For example, when a patient who was previously on a ventilator is given a poor prognosis, care is discontinued and the patient is started on palliative care. Treating a patient with passive euthanasia, may involve neglecting physiological human needs such as food or water (Jeffrey, 1994). According to the journal, Determinants of acceptance of end-of-life interventions: a comparison between withdrawing life-prolonging treatment and euthanasia in Austria, passive euthanasia is identified as the physician’s commitment to avoid using life-sustaining treatment if the patient or the medical power of attorney so decide. Passive euthanasia is understood to be a rationalized valid refusal of prolonging suffering or disease. Another example of a form of passive euthanasia would be when patients have a living will that states their wish is not to be resuscitated if their heart were to stop (Jeffrey, 1994). The patient or medical power of attorney must then decide what measures can be taken and what measures would be extraordinary to sustain life. Ordinary measures include the right to refuse treatment. Federal law supports this right for all patients. The Patient Self-Determination Act states health care providers will inform patients about the right to refuse or accept treatment (Leming & Dickerson, 2010). Surprisingly, the medical field has identified what measures can be taken for each situation and each …show more content…
Euthanasia can be divided into two terms. Passive euthanasia allows the person to die naturally. Active euthanasia provides physician assistance to terminate life and comply to end of life wishes for of some individuals. For many years, euthanasia has been a controversial topic. Those who agree with euthanasia argue that it promotes patients autonomy and respects end of life wishes. Those against euthanasia argue that all life is valuable and that it is morally and ethically wrong to kill another human being. In order to continue promoting and respecting end of life wishes for dying patients, euthanasia should be open for discussion to all patients free from judgement and or personal

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide Vs Euthanasia Essay
    • 2191 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide Vs Euthanasia Essay

    With passive euthanasia (PE), patients are killed due to natural causes. If patients are hooked up to life sustaining equipment, it is permissible to remove the equipment. This may cause the patients to die, but it is not medically induced; if it wasn’t for the medical attention, they would have already passed away. However, with active euthanasia (AE), physicians end peoples’ lives short before natural causes would otherwise kill them.…

    • 2191 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide Case Study
    • 1357 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide Case Study

    EUTHANASIA – AN ETHICAL DILEMMA IN PALLIATIVE CARE The origin of the word euthanasia comes from the Greek word euthanatos – eu meaning good or pleasant and thanatos meaning death, more so when someone has control over their death, how they die and where they are when that happens. Unfortunately, as illness and suffering takes over health and wellbeing, this becomes nearly impossible for many, resulting in the question of a person ’s right to an assisted death to relieve pain and suffering (Starr 2014). Currently, Euthanasia remains illegal and a complex social issue in Australia which continues to be debated by the community (Byrne 2013).…

    • 1357 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Outline For Euthanasia Research Paper
    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Outline For Euthanasia Research Paper

    Outline for Arguments on PAS and Euthanasia When addressing the matter of Euthanasia and PAS, “we must first acknowledge that figuring out the benefits and harms of permitting euthanasia or PAS is speculative at best” (Emanuel). As well, it is important to acknowledge the fact that, “no matter which social policy regarding euthanasia or PAS is adopted - legalization or maintaining the current policy of permitting them in individual cases - there will be both benefits and harms” (Emanuel). In this argument, it will be shown that legalizing Euthanasia and PAS within the United States, will help people, by allowing terminally ill patients to realize the end of a good death or, more accurately, a create a higher quality dying experience for them.…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Passive Euthanasia Analysis
    • 980 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Passive Euthanasia Analysis

    In James Rachel’s “Active and Passive Euthanasia,” he specifically argues, “that the traditional distinction between killing and letting die is untenable” (Rachels, 1975, p. 678). Rachels believes killing is not any worse than letting someone die. Therefore, passive euthanasia is not better than active euthanasia. For legal reasons, physicians may have to differentiate the difference between passive and active euthanasia, but, “they should not give the distinction any added authority and weight by writing it into official statement of medical ethics,” (Rachels, 1975, p.678). Active euthanasia is defined as killing the person directly.…

    • 980 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Arguments Against Euthanasia
    • 2032 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Arguments Against Euthanasia

    Should Euthanasia be banned? The topic of euthanasia arouses much ethical debate and controversy. Euthanasia is the termination of a person’s life to end their suffering, usually through the injection of drugs. Debates about the ethics of euthanasia and medical assisted suicide date from ancient Greece and Rome.…

    • 2032 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Euthanasia In Australia
    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Euthanasia In Australia

    Euthanasia should be legalised? Intro Euthanasia is assisted suicide, it could be ending a patience's suffering by letting him die. Medical technology is advancing so fast euthanasia is not needed to be a practice in today's society. Moreover, it is inhuman and against the law.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide Research Paper
    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide Research Paper

    Opponents say that difficult decisions are supposed to be made, by one’s self, family, and a physician, about a life that is at an end and should be allowed to be let go. It is not for the government to decide when the plug should be pulled or for a death pill to be administered. While opponents argue medically assisted suicide is unethical and will lead society down a slippery slope, proponents argue that it is ethically permissible, and is “the ultimate civil right” and not to let mentally competent, terminally ill patients who want to end their pain and suffering in a peaceful manner, is disrespectful to their right to personal autonomy. But the more modern day medicine and technology continue to pull people from the brink of death, more and more people will be asking for the right to end their lives, because extending the length of life, allows time for more people to become terminally ill and be in pain. Virtually all people want their loved ones to remember them as they once were, not what they could become in the years following the diagnosis of a terminally illness.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Voluntary Active Euthanasia Analysis
    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Voluntary Active Euthanasia Analysis

    Dr. Kallfelz PHI 3323 – 01 November 11, 2015 Euthanasia Euthanasia is directly or indirectly bringing about someone’s death for their own sake. There are four different types of euthanasia, such as voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia, passive euthanasia, and active euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is when the patient or legal guardian agrees or requests euthanasia. Non-voluntary euthanasia is when the legal guardian agrees or requests to euthanasia while the patient is incapacitated or incapable of making the request. Passive euthanasia is withdrawing and withholding action, allowing the patient to die.…

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Assisted Suicide Vs Euthanasia
    • 1458 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Assisted Suicide Vs Euthanasia

    Physician-Assisted suicide and Euthanasia has become a controversial term in politics in recent years, but the headlines that have occurred most recently have stirred the situation once again. In the United States, there are four states that have legally allowed terminally ill patients end their lives on their own terms, those states include: California, Oregon, Washington and Vermont. Montana also allows physician-Assisted suicide, but it is only on a case-by-case basis. Physician-Assisted suicide and Euthanasia have common themes that tend to be discussed on such a controversial topic, such as the legality of death with dignity, what it means to use Physician-Assisted suicide, what determines whether or not patients are able to receive such…

    • 1458 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Tony Nicklinson's Argument Against Euthanasia
    • 1266 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Tony Nicklinson's Argument Against Euthanasia

    For the past six years you have been unable to walk, unable to communicate with family, unable to carry out simple everyday tasks on your own. You live with a constantly growing sense of indignity, misery and helplessness. This was the life of Tony Nicklinson who, after being diagnosed with “locked-in syndrome” was denied the ability to pass away peacefully through euthanasia and was forced, as he described it, to remain in a “living nightmare”. Due to his condition, tony was left in a permanent vegetative state with no hope of recovery. He was denied peaceful passing by the high court judges on two occasions, once in 2010 and then again 2 years later.…

    • 1266 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    End Of Life Care Case Study
    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages

    End Of Life Care Case Study

    Assisted suicide is a good example of active euthanasia (Leming & Dickinson, 2016, p. 266-270). Many people make a moral distinction between active and passive euthanasia. They think that it is acceptable to withhold treatment and allow a patient to die, but that it is never acceptable to kill a patient by a deliberate act. Passive euthanasia is supported by people who agree with sanctity of life and quality of life perspectives. The quality of life perspective is when life no longer has quality to it.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Arguments Against Euthanasia In Today's Society
    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Arguments Against Euthanasia In Today's Society

    Euthanasia is a serious issue in today’s society. Euthanasia is the act of relieving someone of his or her suffering by intentionally ending his or her life. Many people argue that euthanasia is beneficial to the person suffering as well as his or her family. On the other hand, many people argue that euthanasia is morally wrong. Overall, euthanasia is not beneficial to anyone, and the practice should be stopped for good.…

    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Active And Passive Euthanasia By James Rachels
    • 1094 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Active And Passive Euthanasia By James Rachels

    To defeat this belief and undermine such closed minded views, I will raise an argument against active euthanasia in hopes to encourage doctors and other individuals to reconsider their current thoughts. Although, one might disagree with Rachels stance, I agree with his argument because there is no significant moral difference between passive and active euthanasia as the person will presume to be deceased after all. Thus, making his argument consistent and the doctrine, active euthanasia, just as justifiable and permissible as passive euthanasia. In some cases, it is permissible to withhold treatment and allow a patient to die, but it is never permissible to take any direct action intended to kill the patient. Not only is this view adopted by most doctors, but it is accepted in the American Medical Association statement: “…

    • 1094 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Teleological Ethical Dilemma Essay: Euthanasia
    • 1378 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Teleological Ethical Dilemma Essay: Euthanasia

    Ethical Dilemma Essay: Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined as the painless action to end the life of someone suffering from an incurable or terminal disease. There are three different types of euthanasia: active, passive, and voluntary. Active euthanasia is the administration of a lethal drug or another measure to end life and alleviate suffering. Passive euthanasia involves the withdrawal of extraordinary means to support life. Lastly, voluntary euthanasia is when a physician provides access of a lethal dose of medication to a patient who is dying that has disclosed their wishes regarding the management and time of death.…

    • 1378 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Ethical Theories Of Euthanasia
    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ethical Theories Of Euthanasia

    Euthanasia has been the topic of debate for years. The issue of surrounded by euthanasia effects ethical and legal that relates to patient and health care professionals (Naga & Mrayyan, 2013). Euthanasia is defined as the active killing of patients by doctor at the request of the patients. There are several types of euthanasia, active and passive, voluntary and involuntary. Active euthanasia refers steps that are taking to cause death; passive euthanasia refers to step that are taking to cause death by withholding treatment.…

    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings