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Euthanasia & the Elderly   Term Paper ID:27470 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Argument in favor of euthanasia for the elderly. Briefly reviews contrary positions, details the case of Canadian couple Jean & Cecil Brush.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Argument in favor of euthanasia for the elderly. Briefly reviews contrary positions, details the case of Canadian couple Jean & Cecil Brush. Paper Introduction: Euthanasia and the Elderly Introduction One of the recurring issues to face human beings is the problem of a good death. Through the centuries that has been variously defined and redefined to deal with a number of social, psychological, and spiritual issues. In recent times, Elisabeth KublerRoss has set forth the parameters of a good death, noting that people generally pass through several stages, finally reaching a stage of acceptance. However, not all people are content to allow the process of their dying to play out naturally, or to be prolonged indefinitely by an increasingly sophisticated medical establishment. Some people, because of pain, terminal illness, despair, or other causes wish to gain control of their dying and Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. A total of129 (16 percent) actively gave the patient a drug that would promote death,usually an opiate. Cooper, R.R. (1996). Maclean's, 1 8, 32-35. On the other hand, compelling arguments are made by the elderly anddisabled themselves in favor of their need for access to support of theirwish to die before being totally consumed by mental, physical, andspiritual pain. Cohen, J.S. The New England Journal of Medicine, 334, 1374-138 . People in nursing homes, the people in psychiatric wards, mentally and physically dead but breathing and they are kept alive as long as possible. Certainly there are forerunners for that situation even inthis century. Through the centuries that has been variously defined andredefined to deal with a number of social, psychological, and spiritualissues. As a consequence, physician-assisted suicide, or assisted suicide byothers, remains problematic. History Today,4 , 11-17. (1994). . Nonetheless, the interest of the community is on preserving life. He noted that allowing for physician-assisted-suicide, or other kinds of assisted suicide, implies moralapproval for such assistance on the part of the entire community. In general (although not universally), religious leaders tend tocondemn euthanasia and fear the consequences of legalizing it. Forexample, in a study of 852 critical care nurses, 19 percent acknowledgedengaging in some practice that hastened their patient's death. Asch, D.A. It certainly seemspossible that some family members might unduly influence their olderrelatives to choose euthanasia for reasons of greed and need, rather thancompassion.Varying Viewpoints There are a number of different viewpoints on the matter ofeuthanasia. This clearly has its effect on not only individuals, but on families,and through them on the entire community, too. This hasthe effect of undermining the community's interest in preserving life. In addition, Dyck indicated that there were several other communityinterests that are undermined by supporting euthanasia. This, of course, still does not allow for euthanasia in cases likethat of Cecil Brush. In other words, this is one of theearlier attempts to think about a good death. The New England Journal of Medicine, 335, 1676-1679. According to these physicians, palliative care should be standardtreatment with physician-assisted death only allowed when repeatedlyrequested by a competent patient with a terminal or incurable illness.They also recommend creation of an independent oversight committee andestablishment of some sort of review board that ensures publicaccountability. It is impossible to tell the prevalence of euthanasia at this time.There are indications that it is more widespread than is expected. It would be responsible, and helpful, for themajor professions dealing with the issue to come to some conclusions abouttheir role and the moral implications of euthanasia. Even if euthanasia did not become required by the state in certaincases, there is likely to be considerable pressure on the elderly to"voluntarily" eliminate themselves if they become a burden on theirfamilies physically, emotionally, and financially. Steele, S. (1995). 33). The most egregious example is that of Nazi Germany in whicheuthanasia was the method of choice for a government which sought tocoercively create a society embodying the physical characteristics that itconsidered valuable (Burleigh, 199 ). Bibliography Angell, M. One story illustrates the situation of the many of theelderly. (1994) note that guidelines arenecessary because euthanasia is not part of traditional medical practiceand vulnerable patients need to be protected from abuse. He noted that it would eliminate a particular stage of life,although this is over-generalizing the situation, assuming that all peoplewould choose euthanasia, which seems unlikely. The dignity of helplessness: what sort ofsociety would euthanasia create? Euthanasia and the Third Reich. In Washington State, for example, half the physicians surveyed wouldapprove the legalization of euthanasia under certain conditions. Attitudes toward assisted suicide andeuthanasia among physicians in Washington State. (1994). In other words, these professionals seem to have very mixedfeelings about the issue, recognizing the need for it, while at the sametime not wishing to participate in directly ending another person's life.Recommendations Although there are substantial arguments against both suicide andeuthanasia, the most compelling arguments in favor of allowing for thoseoptions are made by those who are most affected by them, the elderly anddisabled individuals themselves. Surveys in the Netherlands indicate that euthanasia guidelines havegenerally been followed, and that the number of deaths involving euthanasiahad not escalated drastically during the time it has been instituted.Total deaths from euthanasia in 199 were 3,3 out of 13 , total deathsthat year. Why? Because of his Alzheimer's, it is unlikely that hewould quality as a competent patient. He was suffering from Alzheimer'sdisease, blind, and wishing to be released from his suffering. If euthanasia becomes an available, and accepted,option, this pressure toward better pain relief measures may subside. However, not all people are content to allow the process of theirdying to play out naturally, or to be prolonged indefinitely by anincreasingly sophisticated medical establishment. (1996). Do the medical profession and governments care what effect this has on families? As a consequence, euthanasia,involuntary, was used against the developmentally disabled, mentally ill,and individuals of many different ethnic backgrounds that were consideredundesirable. Dyck (1995) and Cooper (1996) would contend, however, that this is animportant element of life that the community needs to allow, acknowledge,and come to terms with, rather than eliminate. It combinesGreek forms that mean well and death. As a consequence, professionals may have to deal witheuthanasia relatively soon. The quote from her diaryon the day she euthanized her husband and tried to kill herself isimportant to think about: Cec's and my situation is getting worse day by day and will not get better. He also indicated that advocacy for pain relief iscompromised by euthanasia, although that is not as clear. Rethinking rights and responsibilities.Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press. For example, Rand Cooper(1996) condemned euthanasia and assisted suicide, while noting that itwould change society to be more callous and less concerned with thevulnerable members of the population, including both the young and theelderly. Mercy killing: An elderly woman goes free aftertaking the life of her ailing husband. Perhaps the most compelling story is that of Jean Brush, who watchedher husband be destroyed by Alzheimer's Disease. We have lived our lifetime and it must end before we both become vegetables . Why? (1996). Burleigh, M. This, too, isan impact on the community. These include therelationship between physician and patient, or the general relationshipbetween the health car system and patients, and the community's interest inpreventing suicide. Another problem is that euthanasia, which might begin as an optionallowed to the elderly or disabled, could become required in certainsituations. AlthoughJean Brush succeeded in euthanizing him, she did not die herself, but wasbrought to trial. Brush's story is a harrowing one of two people who loved each othergreatly for many decades, with one eventually declining into physicalsuffering and severe dementia. He might indicate the desire foreuthanasia, but the dementia that characterizes Alzheimer's would make thisunreliable information. . So, many of the individuals who have great need ofassisted-suicide procedures would still be reliant on their family membersor health care professionals willing to take the risk of being held legallyresponsible in a manslaughter or homicide case. In the Netherlands, guidelines are well-established, and health careprofessionals here note that regulatory safeguards are essential beforeeuthanasia is legalized. Et al. Commonweal, 123, 12-15. Doesn't seem like it. While approximately 54 percent believed thateuthanasia should be legal under certain circumstances, only 42 percentfound it ethically acceptable under some circumstances, and only 33 percentindicated that they would be willing to participate in euthanasia (Cohen etal., 1994). In Webster's, among themeanings of the word are one that emphasizes euthanasia as an easy andpainless death, and another that defines the word as an act or method ofcausing death painlessly. Cec being blind and with Alzheimer's disease is like being in a nightmarish hell. Et al. At that trial, she was convicted of manslaughter, ratherthan first-degree murder, but released on 18 months probation (Steele,1995). (1994). The perspectives that are most frequently heard are those ofhealth care providers, religious leaders, ethicists, conservatives in theright to life movement, and the client population itself and their familymembers. There have been efforts even closer to home to institute legalizedeuthanasia. Euthanasia and the ElderlyIntroduction One of the recurring issues to face human beings is the problem of agood death. An even larger percentage (a total of 342) indicatedthat they had thought about practicing euthanasia at some time, but had notdone so, primarily because they were afraid of losing their license or wereconcerned that they might be misinterpreting the patient's request (Asch,1996). Arthur Dyck, a bioethicist, also wrote against euthanasia in terms ofharm to the larger community. The New England Journalof Medicine, 331, 89-95. Anyone who has read about the course ofAlzheimer's disease can understand the horror of Jean Brush and thesuffering that dealing with a member of the family with Alzheimer's createsin the entire family, and in the family's circle of friends. Miller et al. Interestingly enough, however, by 1995 most physicians in theNetherlands were still reluctant to perform euthanasia (Angell, 1996).Even with supportive legislation, legal guidelines and a reviewing panel,and considerable social support, many physicians still find its morallyrepugnant or undesirable in the physician-patient relationship. In order to understand how professionals might beinvolved, it is helpful to look at the case of the Netherlands, in whichassisted suicide or euthanasia is acceptable under certain conditions. It requires careful safeguards to ensure thatindividuals are not literally killed, but are allowed to manage the endingof their lives insofar as they are able. (199 ). In addition to religious leaders, many conservatives abhor euthanasia,linking it to abortion as an act representing diminishing respect forindividual human life and a decline in morality. It is the latter meaning that is the subject ofpublic and legal debate. Miller, F.G. The role of critical care nurses in euthanasiaand assisted suicide. The interests of the entirecommunity are not solely on preserving life, no matter what the other cost. Some people, because ofpain, terminal illness, despair, or other causes wish to gain control oftheir dying and obtain assistance in that dying through the use ofeuthanasia.The Issue It is important to start with a clear understanding of the term"euthanasia." The word itself is derived from the Greek. There are also the individual cases that are reported in the news,such as the assisted suicides of Dr. Kevorkian and periodic cases in whicha spouse euthanizes his or her partner, such as the case of Jean Brush.These are the instances that are apparent, however, and clearly do notrepresent all instances of assisted suicide by family members, health careproviders, and spouses.The Problem of Euthanasia In essence, the major problem of euthanasia is that it requires theassistance of another human being, making it difficult to distinguish frommurder. Cec as he was, young, vibrant, full of life, is no more. Regulating physician-assisted death.The New England Journal of Medicine, 331, 119-124. A Canadian woman, Jean Brush, killed her elderly husband, at thisrequest, and attempted to kill herself. In thissurvey, euthanasia was defined as administering an overdose of medicationat a patient's request. Euthanasia in the Netherlands - good news or bad? While suicide is legal in most states, euthanasia, or some form ofassisted suicide, is not. For them, suffering is ameans to the creation of compassion within society, and greater care, evenwhile the elimination of preventable suffering is a desired goal.Professional Attention One of the main reasons that euthanasia merits professional attention- by legal workers, health care workers, and social work professionals,among others - is that this is a complex issues fraught with manyramifications for the entire society, as well as for the families andindividuals involved. He is a shell, dead, but not buried because he still breathes (Steele, 1995, p. He contendedthat the pressure toward pain relief comes from the fact that sufferingpatients have no other option but the nurturing and empathic care ofphysicians and nurses. In recent times, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross has set forth theparameters of a good death, noting that people generally pass throughseveral stages, finally reaching a stage of acceptance. Dyck, A.J. Both Oregon and Washington have seen referendum efforts toallow for assisted-suicide, with some success, although the issue is stilltied up in courts. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.