Tuesday, April 2, 2019

The Death With Dignity Act

The Death With Dignity ActAlthough the Death with Dignity Act empowers individuals to mastery the timing of their death, physician aid self-destruction still remains a controversial topic in todays society that raises galore(postnominal) good questions. These questions imply Who is the true owner of our lives? Should relieving suffering alship canal be the highest priority or does suffering occur for a reason? Is self-destruction a strictly individual choice (Mathes, 2004)?The answers to the above questions ar subjective, yet health criminal maintenance bleeders address with the difficult issues associated with end-of- look care on a daily basis. Since patients and families frequently bear nurses to provide instruction about support in dying, it is important for nurses to well understand the topic of physician help self-destruction regardless of whether it is licitly permitted within the State where they are working (Ersek, 2004). The purpose of this paper is to withdra w benefits and disadvantages of assisted self-annihilation and to discuss the ethical reasoning behind both(prenominal) of these opposing viewpoints.Throughout the literature, there are many transmission lines that support the proscription of physician assisted suicide. mavin of the most obvious arguments is that health care providers are supposed to save lives-not do them. (de Vocht Nyatanga, 2007). This principle of nonmaleficence can be traced back in time to Hippocrates, a Greek physician, who states this duty as I (healthcare provider) will use manipulation to help the sick fit in to my ability and judgment, further I will never use it to breach or wrong them (Beauchamp Childress, 2009, p. 149). In other words, this statement can be interpreted as do no harm. The American NursesAssociation supports the notion that active participation in assisted suicide goes against the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (2001). back up a client take their own life is not further in contrast with ethical traditions of nursing but it could besides reject clients from seeking out medical care due to fear (Ersek, 2004).In response, proponents for assisted suicide debate that it is well within the patients right to check whether he or she lives or dies. Emphasizing the importance of the principle of autonomy, they go through that quality of life is a very(prenominal) personal opinion. By preventing clients from fetching their life, they feel healthcare providers are cosmos paternalistic and imposing their views onto their patients. around also feel that it is pride, not altruism, which inhibits healthcare workers from supporting assisted suicide. They argue medical professionals do not like to admit that they cannot fix a situation, because it causes them to acknowledge their own limitations and evokes a feeling of failure. (de Vocht et al, 2007).Another reason many dislike physician assisted suicide is their belief that it might eventually lead to inv oluntary euthanasia. This wily slope conjecture is based on the idea that small steps will eventually lead to an fatal chain of events that cannot be stopped once started. This notion is supported by statistics gathered from the Netherlands that state roughly 1,000 patients die due to the result of an end-of-life last made without their explicit consent (Dieterle, 2007, p. 129). thitherfore advocates of this theory feel that the surmount way to prevent the establishment of involuntary euthanasia is by prohibit assisted suicide. In contrast, supporters of physician assisted suicide feel that the knavish slope argument is an exaggeration. Since the passage of the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon, involuntary euthanasia is far from being a reality of the precondition quo in the United States. This is a living example that demonstrates assisted suicide can be passed without spiraling out of control. Therefore support of the slippery slope argument is closed minded and shows littl e faith in human nature (Dieterle, 2007). However, the possibility that patients might be coerced into participating in assisted suicide against their will is very concerning to many people. Opponents to legalizing assisted suicide fear that patients could be persuaded by their family or insurance companies into requesting support in dying. A specific concern exists for vulnerable populations which include the elderly, poor, and minorities. These groups of people whitethorn be easily manipulated and lack the means to defend themselves. In summation, it is very possible that abuses of law could occur (Dieterle, 2007).The argument also exists that legalizing assisted suicide would make it easier to regulate these practices. One result of not legalizing assisted suicide could be that people might utilize the euthanasia underground as a source of relief. These people are very determined to die and may go to other countries or fall back on illegal methods to reach their goal. This not on ly makes it hard to control what is happening, but some people are also dying in ways that they do not prefer (de Vocht et al, 2007).Since assisted suicide is a labyrinthian issue, many feel that forming comprehensive legislation that is safe is an impossible task. The on-line(prenominal) Death with Dignity Act uses many terms which are subjective. For example, there is no definite way to determine the exact time and period when a person will die. Therefore the 6-month prognosis is not original even if it is agreed upon by two different physicians. In addition, mistakes in assisted suicide are permanent and cannot be corrected (Gannon Garland, 2008).Conversely, assisted suicide supporters argue physicians are already familiar with facilitating the death of their patients. Currently, In all 50 states in the US, patients throw away the right to refuse give-and-take and be allowed to die. Furthermore, all 50 states have procedures in place for allowing substituted judgments for the refusal of treatment (Dieterle, 2007, p. 132). Although end-of-life issues are complex, legal support for physicians comfortable with this process should continue.Another argument against assisted suicide is that it could encourage people to give up and take the easy way out. By allowing a person to take their life when they feel forecastless, it might give off the wrong impression to the universe that when life becomes hard it is acceptable to quit. (Dieterle, 2007). Instead of focusing on final result life, emphasis should be put on how to enhance palliative care.On the contrary, proponents for assisted suicide argue that the people who are requesting it are not hopeless and depressed. The clients who utilize the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon, Linda Ganzini states, are not so much depressed as determined (Schwartz Estrin, as cited in Dieterle, 2007, p. 134). Ironically, these people say that assisted suicide actually instills hope in people because they feel they have a way of imperative their life if it becomes too unbearable.ConclusionWhile there many arguments for and against assisted suicide, the answer to the question of whether it is right or wrong remains ambiguous. One reason for the lack of clear cut answers is that assisted suicide is an ethical issue which is dependent on a persons values, morals, religion, and experiences. In general, the topic of end-of-life finis making is very sensitive and evokes strong emotions and opinions. Instead of debating the issues involved with assisted suicide, this paper merely describes pertinent arguments that have been presented by both sides. There are many nursing implications that are associated with assisted suicide. Among these is the importance for nurses to be aware of their own beliefs about end-of-life care. Selfawareness will prepare nurses for obstacles they will vitrine when dealing with death. Another implication is that nurses need to be cognizant of authorities and legal authority. Becoming active in political processes, nurses can work to ensure that they will not be forced into doing procedures that come in direct conflict with their beliefs. Writing this paper has taught me that autonomy is a very controversial issue in the health profession. I have also learned that there is a fine line between being a patient advocate and acting paternalistically. There is also a very fine line between providing a patient with information and influencing their decision making process. I plan to use this knowledge in my practice by being aware of my own biases and respecting the beliefs of my patients. I have come to the conclusion that facing ethical issues is inevitable part of a nurses professional practice.

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