Analyzing Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Ethical Issues in Healthcare Euthanasia Euthanasia is also termed as 'mercy killing', involves concluding the existence of a terminally ill patient on deathbed due to a life-threatening illness. In essence, another individual decides to conclude the existence of the patient by multiple methods, such as using a lethal dosage of injection. The patients can choose euthanasia (voluntary), reject using euthanasia (involuntary), or could be unable to response, depending on their neural function. It is undertaken without the consent of the patient (non-voluntary).

As euthanasia dictates authority over the life of an individual, it also allots this authority to an individual to act as an agent of death (American Nurses Association, 2013). Euthanasia is a word taken from the Greek language, two words mainly, 'eu' and 'thanatos' which means 'good death'. As opposed to being condemned to an excruciating death, euthanasia provides a better opportunity to relieve a person of his sufferings. On the flip side, euthanasia relieves a suffering patient from continuous pain by concluding life support.

The patient, in case, is on deathbed, suffers immense pain from an ongoing illness. According to the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements Provision 1 and Interpretive Statement 1.3 of The Code (2001) instructed to a nurse dictates that: ' .. respecting the rights, dignity and worth of each human being, regardless of the underlying health condition. More so, worth of a person remains indifferent regardless of the underlying functional status, death, disability or immediacy of death'.

It is applicable on all those under the care of a nurse for promotion of health, well-being, averting illness, health restoration, alleviating human suffering, and supporting those who are near deathbed' (p. 12). Euthanasia has both for-against arguments with advocates and proponents on both sides. Some postulates asserted by proponents and opponents of euthanasia are mentioned below: Rights-based Argument The proponents of euthanasia have declared that an individual holds the right in choosing his death as per his wishes, within self-determination and autonomy principles (Bartels & Otlowski, 2010) (Kerridge, Lowe, & Stewart, 2009).

As per autonomy, an individual has the right to choose his death, provided that it puts no individual in any danger. Moreover, euthanasia is also termed as a rejection of human life and its consequent importance. As opposed to pregnancy, where a choice exists, in case of euthanasia, the patient in question is paralyzed to make a decision. Beneficence On the other hand, it could be argued that euthanasia will ease off the suffering of a patient by cutting down life support.

However, proponents of euthanasia argue that according to moral principles of the society, no person should be allowed to suffer continually. Mercy killing, as a result, is the only logical step in salvaging the pain of a patient (Norval & Gwyther, 2003). Abuse of Autonomy and Human Rights Autonomy plays both for-against case for euthanasia. It supports the application of euthanasia, but also contradicts it. According to autonomy, it is prohibited to conclude an individual's life by any such conditions.

More so, it has been put to case that euthanasia has rarely been asserted by a terminally ill patient since his mind is in a vegetative / dormant state (Ebrahimi, 2012). Abortion Medically terminating a pregnancy in order to avert childbirth is known as abortion. Referred to as 'aborting childbirth' or 'terminating pregnancy' sometimes, the pregnancy can be initiated by either a medical surgery or taking medication (NHS, 2014). A highly debated subject in medical ethics is about abortion. As abortion is a human rights issue, all humans deserve a right to live.

When an individual starts to exist, it becomes a moralistic and ethical dilemma. With conception, life is created, according to molecular biology standards. The laws of evolution teach us to support the existence of human life (Patil, Dode, & Ahirrao, 2014). Abortion is still a highly debated yet unresolved issue in modern times. Even healthcare professionals and activists have diverging opinion regarding abortion. The six principles are relevant and applicable to abortion issue within a healthcare system.

More so, ethical principle of autonomy also applies to the abortion issue (Ethical Dilemma Faced by Professional Nurses on Abortion Issue, 1969). Distribution of Resources When nurses are tending to patients bordering to a near death / dormant state, should the patients be cut off from life supply.