Term Paper on "Right to Die Why Patients"

Term Paper 5 pages (1794 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Right to Die

Why Patients Should Be Able to Control When and How They Die

Patients should be able to control when and how they die

It is immoral to force a person to endure unremitting, unbearable, or prolonged pain

End of life conditions rob people of their dignity and will to live (Bernstein, 1997)

Elderly patients endure unnecessary pain before they die (Foley, 1995 and Isaacs and Knickman, 1997).

The medical community can adequately address pain management.

There are some patients that whose pain cannot be managed (the medical management of pain).

Various other factors such as inability to afford the medications, lack of physician skill, and the side effects of medications prevent pain treatment (the medical management of pain).

Personal and Religious Beliefs of a Few Should Not Impede an Individual's Right to Decide How They Die

1.Non-Christains and others who are not religious overwhelmingly support assisted suicide, but Evangelical Christians oppose it by a 2-1 margin (Langer, 2003).

2. Federal and state courts have repeatedly found that the right to decide about medical treatment is protected under the constitution (Coleman and Miller).

Abstract

Older Americans with chronic illness are increasingly demanding the right to control what happens to them during their last few months of life, but they have no right to do so because the practice of euthanasia is illegal in this country. As a result, they are robbed of their di

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gnity during their final days as unspeakable pain renders them helpless. The medical community, for a variety, cannot adequately manage their pain. In most circumstances, the courts protect the patient's right to decide about medical treatment, but they draw the line with euthanasia. Unfortunately, there is a religious monitory that wields great political pressure at the expense of the critically ill. This is a situation that needs to change.

1.0 Introduction

Do you believe you should have the way to control the way you die when you are at the end of your life or should others make this decision for you? This is a question subject to great debate. According to the American Psychological Association, "End of life is defined as that time period when health care providers would not be surprised if death occurred within about 6 months." (End of life issues and care) Older Americans with chronic illness are increasingly demanding the right to control what happens to them during this time with many wanting euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, as an option. Data from the American Psychological Associate verify the tremendous pain endured by the terminally ill while the National Institutes of Health acknowledge that this pain is often impossible to manage (the medical management of pain and Fact sheet on end-of-life care). Even so, most Americans do not have the ability to determine their own destiny; they have to endure needless pain and suffering because of the influence of the personal and religious beliefs of others that it is somehow more humane to let people suffer than it is to end their pain and suffering.

2.0 Why Patients Should Be Able to Control When and How They Die

People should be able to control when and how they die for three major reasons: a) it is immoral to subject dying people to unnecessary pain and suffering; b) the medical community cannot adequately address pain under all circumstances; and c) personal and religious beliefs of a few should not impede an individual's rights.

2.1 it is Immoral to Subject Dying Patients to Unnecessary Pain and Suffering

It is immoral to force a person to endure unremitting, unbearable, or prolonged pain. Unfortunately, there are times when the burdens of life outweigh the benefits because of uncontrollable pain (End of life issues and care). Nothing turned the spotlight on the issue of euthanasia more than Dr. Jack Kevorkian. In 1997, he assisted in the suicide of a Colorado multiple sclerosis (MS) patient whose body was later discovered in a motel room. According to a letter left by the patient, Kari Miller, "The pain I was forced to live with and what the MS had done to me became intolerable. "MS "had robbed me of all my dignity and my zest for life." (cited in Bernstein, 1997) Unfortunately, Miller's experience is not an isolated one as indicated by statistics compiled by many researchers

Caregivers reported that a third of 1227 elderly individuals were in unnecessary pain during the 24 hours before their death. Studies show that two thirds of elderly patients have pain in the last month of life." (Foley, 1995) "Although palliative/comfort care could relieve most of this pain and suffering, patients typically spend 8 days in ICU (an intensive careunit) comatose or on a ventilator and 30% of patients spend at least 10 days in ICU before they die." (Isaacs and Knickman (1997).

2.2 the Medical Community Can Not Adequately Address Pain Management

Despite claims that the medical community can adequately address pain management, it cannot do so for a variety of factors. Proceedings from a National Institutes of Health conference reveal that, "The data indicate that there remains a proportion of patients whose pain presents difficult, and so far unsolved, problems for successful management." (the medical management of pain) Even if pain killing medication is available, many can't afford it because they lack health-care coverage or even if they do they still cannot afford expensive pain medications. Others are denied adequate pain killers because of their physician's lack of knowledge, inadequate training, or specific beliefs. Yet, others are concerned about the side effects of pain medication, including addiction and would prefer to deal with their pain in a different way (the medical management of pain). Regardless of reason, the pain of the chronically ill is not being adequately addressed. The American Pain Society found that over forty percent of individuals "with moderate to severe chronic pain have yet to find adequate relief, saying their pain is out of control..." The study also found that "only 22% had been referred to a specialized pain treatment program or clinic" (the medical management of pain)

2.3 Personal and Religious Beliefs of a Few Should Not Impede an Individual's Right to Decide How They Die

Some people believe that euthenasia is the same as murder. As a result, people are prevented from facilitating a comfortable death that is already in progress by others who hold personal and religious beliefs that are different from their own. This is happening in a country that's supposed to uphold the Constitutional principle of separation of church and state and personal liberties. A 2003 survey conducted by ABC News revealed that forty percent of all Americans support legalizing assisted suicide. The survey reveals that religious beliefs are highly correlated with opinions regarding euthanasia, "Non-Christians and people who profess no religion overwhelmingly support assisted suicide. But it's opposed by most Christians, who account for eight in 10 Americans, and especially by evangelical Christians, who oppose assisted suicide by a 2-1 margin." (Langer, 2003) One can't help, but wonder how much religion is influencing our courts on the issue of euthanasia. Federal and state courts have repeatedly found that the right to decide about medical treatment is protected under the constitution, yet they draw the line for applying this privilege to physician- assisted suicides (Coleman and Miller).

3.0 Conclusion

The rights of the chronically ill to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering in their last few months of life through euthanasia should be protected, but it's not. Instead, the chronically ill are forced to endure unspeakable pain. Either they cannot afford the medications that might help them or their doctors lack the technology and medications that to control their pain. Even so, their individual rights are overshadowed by political pressures from religious groups and the failure to correctly apply constitutional rights to physician-assisted suicide as yet another individual decision to determine medical treatment. This is a situation that ought to change.

In closing, Albert Schweitzer, a noted physician, humanitarian, theologian and composer said, "We all must die. But if I can save someone from days of torture, that is what I feel is my great and ever new privilege. Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself." (the medical management of pain)

Bibliography

Bernstein, S. (1997, September 30). An act of mercy or murder?

http://www.aish.com/societywork/sciencenature/Doctor-Assisted_Suicide.asp

Bernstein includes opinions (both pro and con) on whether services be available to any patient who is terminally ill and facing certain death within six months.

Coleman, C.H. And Miller, T.E. Stemming the tide: Assisted suicide and the Constitution. http://law.shu.edu/faculty/fulltime_faculty/colemaca/pdf_docs/coleman_miller_watermark.pdf

Coleman and Miller acknowledge that the Constitution guarantees individuals the right to reject unwanted invasive procedures and to die a natural death. However, they argue that it does not and should not authorize physicians to dispense lethal medications at a patient's request because vulnerable individuals would be at risk and because the practice could not be limited to the terminally ill.

End of life issues and care." American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/pi/eol/arguments.html#2

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Quoted Instructions for "Right to Die Why Patients" Assignment:

“

HCM 349

Readings in Health Care Management: Assignment Guidelines

Assignment Guidelines Due Date

Health Care Management topics Course faculty must approve topics before beginning the annotated bibliography assignment. Students should provide to faculty a written topic approval request with a brief rationale for why these topics were chosen.

It is suggested that you begin these assignments by spending time in the library determining relevant topics and sufficient quality resources to meet the assignment guidelines. Then submit your topic choices to your faculty. The topics with rationale are due to me as soon as possible after the semester begins.

Annotated bibliography The following is a shortened example of an annotated bibliography provided Moore, S. J.

Brown, J., Boles, M., Mullooly, J., & Levinson, W. (2005).

Effect of clinician communication skills training on patient satisfaction: A

randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 13(22), 822-

829.

There were 69 physician, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner participants in this randomized controlled trial that sought to determine whether clinicians***** exposure to a communication skills training program increased patient satisfaction with ambulatory medical care visits. Although the participating clinicians self-reported ratings of their communication skills showed moderate improvement, there was no improvement of patient satisfactions scores. The authors suggested that a longer, more intensive and more broadly based program with ongoing feedback might be more effective.

*Refer to the HCM 349 Syllabus for additional guidelines for the completion of this assignment.

Use a stage three topical outline

with references and a reference page for each paper

The Little Brown Compact Handbook does not include references in its discussion on outlines; however, I require references as a further aid in helping you develop your final paper. Refer to section three in the Little Brown Compact Handbook (6th ed.) pp. 18-20 (Section 3 3b: Organizing your ideas: Outlines)

*Refer to this example for additional information on the completion of this assignment.

First stage outline: Develop the concepts or major components of the paper.

I. *****Reaction time is related to physical fitness level***** (Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman, 2004, p. 72).

Second stage outline: Develop the subtopics for each major component of the paper.

I. Reaction time is related to physical fitness level.

A. Comparison of the reaction time of physically active and inactive subjects (Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman, 2004).

B. Training effects on reaction time (Anderson, Weinstein, & Green, 2003).

C. Reaction time of those in poor physical condition: cardiovascular disease, hypertension (Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman, 2004).

Third stage outline: Add the most important references that support each subtopic (examples are shown without a complete reference page)

I. Reaction time is related to physical fitness level.

A. Comparison of the reaction time of physically active and inactive subjects.

1. Physically active individuals have faster reaction times than do sedentary individuals (Clark & Addison, 2001; Cohen, 2004, 2003; Jones, 2000, 2003; Jones & Johnson, 2004; Lloyd, 2004).

B. Training effects on reaction time.

1. Reaction time is faster after a physical training program (Black, 2002, 2003; Dougherty, 2003; Morgan & Ramirez, 2001; Ramirez, 2000; Richards, 2000, 2002).

C. Reaction time of those in poor physical condition (cardiovascular disease, hypertension (Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman, (2004, p. 72).

1. Cardiovascular-diseased patients have slower reaction time than normal individuals (Brown, 2000; Brown, Mathews, & Smith, 2002; Miller, 2002, 2003; Miller & Roe, 2001; Smith, Brown, & Rogers, 2003).

Requirements for this outline include references for each stage of your outline.

Use outline guides one, two, and three for this assignment.

(Your final submission will be a stage three outline and will include a reference page or pages).

**A persuasive paper Includes title page, an abstract, an introduction, a body, conclusion, and a reference page. *Refer to the Syllabus for information and specifics on the completion of this assignment.

**See LBCH pp. 95-114 for Understanding and using the elements of an argument.

A comparative paper Includes title page, an abstract, an introduction, a body, a conclusion, and a reference page. *Refer to the Syllabus for additional guidelines on the completion of this assignment.

Topic evaluation Provide a one-full page evaluation of the chosen topics, their enhancement of your knowledge, and recommendation if others would find the topics valuable or any research ideas. The above info is the criteria for twhat I need : annotated bibliography for both papers listed below(2)two Stage three outlines for comparative paper (Topic: sexual harrasement male vs female cases reported within a hospital or medical treatment facility), persauasive paper (The right to die). Please site all sources and a subject evaluation for both papers. I understand that this is more than one paper please bill my charge for all work and complete it in micro soft word 2003.

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