Good Death

We came to this decision because we felt that if a few professional psychiatrist can render him mentally competent than he should be allowed to make his own decisions because it is moral. This is moral because people should be allowed to do what they want with their body, and as Cowart says it is, “the right to control your own body is a right you’re born with…” (Cowart 2). However, this is refuted when that person cannot make rational decisions because that person would be mentally incompetent. People that are mentally incompetent are incapable of making decisions that are in their best interest. We also discussed his mother and how all she cared about is for him to receive treatment which we thought was a bit selfish. This is a typical parental perspective considering that parents do not want to outlive their children. However, she should have sought out what was best for him and what he was going to be happy with and not her. As a group we also felt that he should have received better pain treatment especially since Cowart found out later that they could have done more for his treatment. If someone is in as much pain as he was and when a doctor is confronted with the request to die, that doctor should be doing everything he or she can to bring down the pain.

B. It is important to take into consideration what the person desires. Although it may seem too extreme to end your life, we are not feeling what the ill person is feeling so we cannot judge their decisions.

It was not intended to make readers sad or necessarily agree with his decision, however, to examine their own life and situation and to contemplate death, as it is inevitable for everyone. Most people are bound to have to face a similar choice as Clendinen. Maybe not in the same extreme measure, but most people will have to make a decision for a family member who is no longer capable of making medical decisions for themselves. Clendinen achieved his purpose and readers should walk away from this article recognizing exactly what Clendinen’s beliefs are on death, and it ought to make them curious about their own thoughts and beliefs. At the very least, talk with their loved one’s before they ever become ill and find out their loved one’s wishes. Most people are skilled on how to live their life, but how many are taught to embrace the

You've sat in your hospital bed for at least three months now, and the pain and boredom is starting to become even more torturous than you could have imagined. The pain that you are experiencing on a day-to-day basis is excruciating; a normal, everyday procedure like using the restroom or getting something to eat is a long, drawn out, and painful ordeal. All of the doctors that you've talked to agree that you are going to die soon from the disease that has infested your body, but even six months sounds like an excruciatingly long amount of time, especially when all you have to occupy your time is lie in a bed painfully, waiting it out. Your family and friends are already distraught by the news; they already know that you are on the brink

As a patient you would be sitting their confused, wondering if its curable, if you're going to get through it, and what is this crazy disease living inside of me. The feeling inside would just eat you alive because you would never know which day might be your last. Not ready to leave this earth or hurt the ones you would leave behind if you go? Have I lived life to the fullest or is their more things I need to do before my time is up? Life is short you need to smile and live everyday like it's your last weather your

Over the course of her illness, the doctors called us to the family meeting about a half dozen times. Each time we refused, and she improved enjoying another 6 to 8 months before a crisis. I am sure that if she were totally vegetative, that we would have reluctantly let her go, but her time had not come.

When we get older and when we deal with someone else who is nearing death we misunderstand what happens and how to understand the death process, we do not know what to expect and how to handle the process.

No one wants to see their loved ones suffer, but this was not something we could

option is assisted-suicide. Now, put yourself into his shoes. Would you choose to live the rest of

"Improperly managed physical symptoms" can add to physician error and end a life too early when an individuals suffering can be eased in other manners that could prolong life. Death is one of the most feared experiences a person will ever face. The suffering that is associated with death may outweigh the actual suffering the patient feels, and doctors may overlook this due to the façade the patient may play in order to exercise their "right to die".

Imagine for a moment one morning you woke up not feeling quite yourself, you have a really high fever and your back and feet hurt in such a way you can barely catch your breath, something that has become more pronounced and refuses to be ignored. You call you family doctor up and make an appointment to go in and get his opinion on what could be wrong with you. The doctor asks you some rather routine questions, pokes and prods at you, takes several samples of your blood and sends them off to be tested, advising you that he will call you as soon as the results are back. A week and a half goes by and finally you get the call you have been looking forward to and dreading at the same time. The doctor asks you to come to his office because he would like to discuss his findings with you in person. You find yourself in the doctors’ office sitting on that stiff leather couch across from the doctor who seems a bit uncomfortable as though he is not quite sure if he should look you in the eye or at the wall over your shoulder. In a very low and calm voice he breaks it to you and tells you that your blood tested positive for a very bad terminal illness where life as you know it would change as this illness progressed. You would become more and more dependent on others such as your family as this illness took hold of you. You would go from being able to do the seemingly simple things you find you always took for granted without even realizing it like walking under you own steam, bathing

It would give them the opportunity to tie up loose ends and properly say goodbye to their loved ones. More importantly, memories that their family had before they passed would be drastically different. I am sure that they would want to be remembered as happier rather than in pain. An illness should not take away everything, including happiness and all together life. They should get to decide when they have dealt with enough and also, when they believe that they are ready to pass. We at least owe them the privilege to pass with dignity while it is still

The bad thing about the situation was that medically there was nothing more that could be done for this patient. All the family could do was to sit by his bedside and wait for their loved one take his last breath, and to be at peace.

The current health situation should be explained in a non-technical way so the patient (if possible) family, and or valid surrogate can understand every aspect. The physician should also help them understand when there is no hope for recovery. Most often the organs are no longer functioning, or there is little to no brain activity; at this point suffering potentially outweighs the probability of recovery. Medical teams most often realize that the focus should be on comfort, rather than extending a dying life. This decision comes with a great deal of uncertainty, and will always be hard, no matter what age of the patient, or the circumstances. Kathryn Kosh, MD explains that, “Ready access to advanced modern technology has changed death from an event to a process… Defying death requires payment [in the form of] pain and discomfort or in an unacceptable decline in the quality of life.” Often times physicians will not prescribe treatment in the first place knowing that this option will not benefit the patient, prolong suffering; and will likely end in termination anyway. Therefore, allowing the nature of the illness or injury to take its own course of action. Another point of interest regarding this topic is that medical teams realize in most cases, that providing an ethical and dignified death can be just as rewarding as administering aggressive measures to save a

Our society finds it difficult to talk about dying and euphemisms are the norm. It is typical for both doctors and patients to be hesitant to initiate a discussion on dying. Focus instead is often more often placed on interventions and actions for managing symptoms. This avoidance can leave patients and their families unprepared for the inevitable death. (Schapira, 2010) It also often results in requests for therapies which may be excessive, costly and even painful in the hopes for a cure. One study demonstrates that when patients are aware that they are terminally ill, the majority are able to reach a state of peacefulness and also exhibit lower levels of distress. (Ray, Block, Friedlander, Zhang, Maciejewski & Prigerson, 2006) It is also important that family members are willing to discuss end-of-life options with their loved ones. According to elderly patients, they are most often the ones who initiate these conversations with their