Question

Position Paper 700 words about Ethical Issues at the End of Life in example Physician assisted suicide, Euthanasia,Palliation and pain management, Withholding and withdrawal of treatment, Withholding or withdrawal of medically assisted nutrition and hydration, Advance directives, End of life decision-making for unbefriended patients (no known proxy), Overriding an advanced directive by a family member or provider, DNR in the OR Aggressive end of life treatment for patients with advanced Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other chronic mental illness

The assignment will be scored according to the following rubric:

CONTENT	POINTS
Topic Introduction	10
Problem statement, ethical issues/questions, principles/theories and definitions	15
Arguments	25
Counter-arguments	25
Personal position	15
Organization, Writing Mechanics, and APA Format	10
TOTAL	100

Answer 1

TOPIC INTRODUCTION

All human-beings are mortals and hence death is an inevitable occurrence. Advancements in medical technology are changing the norms of natural death. These technologically advanced treatments have a capability to intervene at the time of death and prolong the lives of people. Medical technologies are facilitating to reshape the circumstances around natural death, by sustaining human lives.

Problem statement, ethical issues/questions:

During EOL care, ethical dilemmas may arise from situations such as communication breakdowns, patient autonomy being compromised, ineffective symptom management, non-beneficial care, and shared decision making. Oncology nurses can navigate ethical dilemmas by offering the best possible care while allowing patients, family members, and caregivers the opportunities to experience EOL with dignity.

Some Ethical Issues Surrounding End-of-Life Care:

Autonomous Decision Making

“Decision making” is itself a very complex process of thoughts and sets-up various challenges for patients and their families to make up an end-of-life care decision

Physician’s Role and Responsibilities to Resolve the Issue

Healthcare professionals can play an important role by providing detailed information about an advanced medical treatment which can be used during end-of-life care. Physicians can perform their duties rightfully by providing patients detailed information about the benefits, limitations and drawbacks of that treatment.

Advance Directives

An “advance directive” enables competent individuals to design and document their health care decision plan in advance in case of future disability or terminal illness. This advance directive can be of two types, instructional and proxy.

Rationing of Care and Futile Treatment

The technological advancements and innovations are reshaping the decisions and treatment preferences surrounding end-of-life care. These technologically advanced treatments have a capability to prolong the life of a patient rather than allowing the natural dying process.

Costs Involved in End-of-Life Care

The expenditure on healthcare is too much in relation with total number of people and outcome. United States is spending a lot of money on health care and the average dollar amount per person is also much higher.

Ethical Theories Involved in End-of-Life Care

Healthcare providers and physicians have to consider patient’s perspective and preferences. They have to work against the egoistic theory by working for the good of the patient

Patient’s family members when implied with the task of making appropriate treatment choices or end-of-life care choices for the incapacitated patient should put aside their self-interest and judge the situation and come to a decision in the patient’s best interest.

Arguments

The two most common arguments in favor of legalizing AID are respect for patient autonomy and relief of suffering. A third, related, argument is that AID is a safe medical practice, requiring a health care professional.

Counter arguments:

At its core, medicine has always aimed to relieve the suffering of patients from illness and disease. In the West, Hippocrates’s ancient oath pledged to use treatments to help the sick, but not “administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so.

Although opponents of AID offer many arguments ranging from pragmatic to philosophical, we focus here on concerns that the expansion of AID might cause additional, unintended harm through suicide contagion, slippery slope, and the deaths of patients suffering from depression.

Personal position:

Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas every day: situations where no “right” answer is clear. This is especially common during end-of-life (EOL) care, where patients and caregivers may experience charged emotions, grief, and loss. Oncology nurses are often called on to act as mediators through difficult moments, advocating for their patients while connecting caregivers with the resources that will help them during a challenging time.

Organization:

According to the World Health Organization, palliative care is an approach that improves quality of life for patients and their families who face problems associated with the end of the life.