Euthanasia an Ethical Dilemma Awaiting Full Review

Collaborative Learning Community -- Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma

Collaborative Learning Community: Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma

Euthanasia and related ethical implications

Euthanasia, referred to as "mercy killing" in common parlance, is the action of ending the life of an individual suffering from painful and extended injury or illness (Center for Health Ethics, 2011). Euthanasia implies that another individual, excluding the patient carries out an action with the intention of ending the patient's life, for instance, a lethal dose of medicine being injected into the patient. It might be voluntary if the patient approves of it, involuntary if the patient says no to it, or even non-voluntary if the patient is unable to approve of it. In euthanasia, an individual makes the means of death available in addition to acting as death's direct agent (American Nurses Association, 2013).

Euthanasia is the act of putting the life of a patient to an end to rid them of their suffering. Normally, such patient would be terminally sick or going through immense pain and suffering.

The origin of the phrase "euthanasia" is the Greek words "eu" meaning good and "thanatos" meaning death. Its concept is that rather than condemning an individual to a slow, agonizing or undignified death, euthanasia would permit the patient to go through a somewhat "good death." "

Ethical Implications

There are several arguments which have been presented either in support of or in opposition to euthanasia. Some of them are listed below.

Support

Rights-based argument view

Supporters of the act maintain that a patient possesses the right to make the decision concerning how and when they should die (Bartels & Otlowski, 2010; (Kerridge, Lowe, & Stewart, 2009). This concept is known as autonomy.

Beneficence

Supporters of euthanasia communicate the view that the primary moral value of a society, mercy and empathy, necessitate that no patient should experience intolerable suffering, and mercy killing should be allowed (Norval & Gwyther, 2003).

Criticism

The sanctity of life

This can be viewed from both a religious and a secular basis. The principal philosophy is that human life ought to be valued and preserved. From a Christian perspective, life is a gift from God, who must not be upset by taking it away. Likewise, according to the Islamic faith it is only God who possesses the right to give and take away life (Bulow, et al., 2008)."

Abuse of autonomy and human rights

The voluntary ending of the conditions needed for autonomy is prohibited by the principle of autonomy. In addition, it has also been said that patient's demand for euthanasia are seldom independent, since majority of the terminally ill patients might not be of sound mind and capable of taking important decisions on their own accord (Ebrahimi, 2012).

Obligations to your profession and work as a nurse

Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements Provision 1, Interpretive Statement 1.3 of The Code (2001) talks of the obligation of nurses to the intrinsic: the value, self-respect and rights of every human being regardless of the nature of the health issue. An individual's value is influenced by death, disability, functional condition, or proximity to death. This respect stretches to everyone who needs the services of nurses for health's promotion, illness avoidance, health restoration, lessening of suffering, and provision of care to those dying (p. 12).

Laws regarding this topic

Though several nations have no laws allowing active euthanasia, reports reveal that it is illegally conducted by some medical practitioners and also by family members and friends of the critically ill patients.

Australia

Euthanasia was first legalized in Australia's Northern Territory. Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 1995, a private member's bill became law on 25th May 1995, and was agreed to on 16th June 1995. It was only utilized by four individuals, all assisted to die by Dr. Philip Nitschke, before it was revoked by the Australian Senate on 25th March 1997 (The Life Resources Charitable Trust, 2011).

United States

Euthanasia is permitted in five U.S. states. The action is, however, illegal. The "aid in dying" movement has made incremental gains in the current years, although the subject stays contentious (The Guardian, 2014).

Stakeholders

The stakeholders in euthanasia issue include;

Doctors

Politicians

Families

Religious public

Prospective euthanasia users

Impact on social values, morals, norms, and nursing practice

Nurses play an important function for patients towards the end of life. They include evaluating and controlling pain and other symptoms, dealing with psycho-spiritual needs, discussing treatment alternatives and many more. A lot of resources direct nurses in accomplishing these duties. Sadly, only few resources are present to guide nurses on assisted death. This is because a great deal of literature concentrates on the function of doctors in euthanasia. Also, several professional nursing and hospital associations have published statements in opposition of the corroboration of and expert indulgence in euthanasia (Ersek, 2004).