Voluntary/Assisted Euthanasia Essay - 1200 Words

Voluntary/Assisted Euthanasia Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Voluntary/Assisted Euthanasia (Thesis, Description of the topic and related ethical implications, Obligations to your profession and work as a nurse) Debra Burden The purpose of this paper is to define the issue and legalities of assisted death and the key ethical arguments, including the social values and norms, encompassing this topic. Also included in this paper on voluntary/assisted suicide is the connection with nursing practice and the theories and/or principles that guide the foundation and fundamentals of the profession in this particular area. Assisted death is a term that encompasses both assisted suicide and also active†¦show more content†¦Nurses are healers by nature, and most nurses would by no means ever suggest ending a patient’s life. When a patient is expiring from a terminal, debilitating disease, he/ she may beg for a rapid and painless death. This concern will raise a very complicated moral dilemma for a nurse. This type of situation aids the nurse to second-guess the ethical traditions she has obtained in the nursing profession, leaving us with the uncertainty â€Å"what is a nurse’s role in ass isted suicide?† (Kozier Erb, 2010). In spite of this, assisted suicide should not be confused with ethically warranted end-of-life decisions and actions. The case was based on family and the physician’s individual beliefs. According to her husband, Michael Schiavo, Terri did not want to live life in a vegetative state. Her wishes needed to be heard, valued, and fulfilled. Possibly if the healthcare team offered education to the family then the individuals this could have kept their autonomy. Many times all it takes an explanation what the patient is going through and assisting the family with making the best ethical decision for their loved one. Nurses, play a major role in end-of-life care by advocating for patient’s needs and making certain that the quality symptom management and support at the end of life. In the case of Terri, the patient autonomy was taken from them and their wishes were not granted. (Laws regarding the topic, stakeholders in theShow More RelatedPhysician Assisted Suicide And Voluntary Euthanasia1348 Words   |  6 PagesPhysician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia is still under scrutiny for a number of reasons. â€Å"In spring, 1996, the Ninth and Second Circuits were the first circuit courts in the country to find a constitutional prohibition against laws which make physician-assisted suicide a crime† (Martyn Bourguignon, 1997). New York was one of the states that followed this prohibition. Eventually, The Ninth and Second Circuit, â€Å"allow physician-assisted suicide while attempting to protect individuals fromRead MoreVoluntary Euthanasia Or Assisted Suicide983 Words   |  4 PagesA topic that has been around for a while is voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide. Our book states that â€Å"a person who is virtually certain to die within a given amount of time and is experiencing or will experience a lot of pain before he or she dies should be able to choose an earlier, les painful death (Mosser, 2013). There are reasons that arise or illnesses that occur that should be reason enough for a person to choose if they want to continue to suffer through the illness or the painRead MoreAssisted Death And Voluntary Euthanasia1586 Words   |  7 PagesTO ALLOW ‘ASSISTED DYING’ FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL? To begin with, assisted dying remains highly topical and debated, both in the public and medical arena. Assisted death, incorporates both physician assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. It gives the freedom to a terminally ill person or a mentally competent adult, to choose on their own free will and after meeting strict legal safeguards, takes prescribed medication which will end their life in dying. There are two types of Euthanasia. InvoluntaryRead MoreAssisted Suicide Or Voluntary Euthanasia1864 Words   |  8 Pages TITLE Assisted Suicide or Voluntary Euthanasia is when a patient with a terminal illness request to end their life by taking a lethal injection or a prescribed medication with the help of a medical professional. In the United States each state has the choice on whether or not it is illegal to perform the task of assisted suicide. Out of all fifty states there are only five with a legal method for assisted suicide. In Vermont, Washington, California and OregonRead MoreAssisted Suicide And Voluntary Active Euthanasia Essay1345 Words   |  6 Pagesphysician assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia. Physician assisted suicide is when the patient is prescribed lethal medicine by the doctor to commit suicide. Meanwhile, voluntary active euthanasia is when a physician takes an active role in the act of killing the patient. There is often debate on whether or not any of these actions should be legalized in all states. Physician assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, California, Montana, V ermont, and Washington. Voluntary active euthanasia is illegalRead MoreAssisted Suicide And Voluntary Active Euthanasia Essay1270 Words   |  6 Pagesphysician assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia. Physician assisted suicide is when the patient is prescribed lethal medicine by the doctor to commit suicide. While, voluntary active euthanasia is when a physician takes an active role in the action of killing the patient. There is often debate on whether or not any of these actions should be legalized in all states. Physician assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, California, Montana, Vermont, and Washington. Voluntary active euthanasia is illegalRead MoreEuthanasi Voluntary Active Euthanasia, Passive Euthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide1143 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Heritage Dictionary euthanasia is defined as the art or practice of ending the life of a person or animal having a terminal illness or a medical condition that causes suffering. Euthanasia should be a individual choice to end a patient s life. This keeps them from going through excruciating pain due to an incurable disease. Some people think euthanasia should be out of the picture while others inquiry the effectiveness of these actions. With effectiveness, euthanasia is classified in threeRead MoreAmerica Needs Voluntary Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Essay1081 Words   |  5 Pageswilling to accept the fact their family member intended to use medical assisted suicide? Very few individuals would agree with this, but in the same instance should a human being want their relative to be in unbearable pain? According to the author, â€Å"Indeed, physician-assisted suicide implies not a resistance to but an extension of medical power over life and death† (Salem). There are various reasons as to why medical assisted suicide could be viewed as wrong, but it should be the patient’s choiceRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide And Voluntary Euthanasia, Legitimacy And Legality 1352 Words   |  6 Pages Physician Assisted Suicide and Voluntary Euthanasia, Legitimacy and Legality Isaac Roer Saginaw Valley State University Abstract This paper discusses why the U.S. should implement the availability of physician assisted suicide/death and voluntary euthanasia. It discusses countries that have this legally, how they do not abuse the fact, and the percentages of both physicians and patients that are affiliated with PAS/VE. It continues with the legal moral issues it has within the UnitedRead MoreFree Euthanasia Essay580 Words   |  3 Pages The word quot;euthanasiaquot; is Greek, which means quot;a good death.quot; The issue is far more complex than what a dictionarys explanation is. The issue of euthanasia is one of the most discussed topics in all of the United States Congress. US government agencies, legislators and leaders have attempted unsuccessfully to stop assisted suicide nationwide by barring the use of federally controlled substances at lethal levels intended for mercy killing. There are many issues surrounding the