The Curious Case of Dax Cowart Essay example

In his article “Whose Body Is It, Anyway?”—appearing in the New Yorker in October 1994—Dr. Atul Gawande highlights the complexities of the doctor-patient relationship vis-à-vis patient autonomy and decision-making. Dr. Gawande explains that a respect for patient autonomy (i.e., allowing patients to choose between courses of treatment, therefore directly influencing their health outcome) is the “new normal” for medical practitioners. However, Gawande also contends that there are times when patients are better served by a voluntary relinquishment of that autonomy.

Did you know, about 57% of physicians today have received a request for physician assisted suicide due to suffering from a terminally ill patient. Suffering has always been a part of human existence, and these requests have been occurring since medicine has been around. Moreover, there are two principles that all organized medicine agree upon. The first one is physicians have a responsibility to relieve pain and suffering of dying patients in their care. The second one is physicians must respect patients’ competent decisions to decline life-sustaining treatment. Basically, these principles state the patients over the age of 18 that are mentally stable have the right to choose to end their life if they are suffering from pain. As of right

Autonomy includes three primary conditions: (1) liberty (independence from controlling influences), (2) agency (capacity for intentional action), and (3) understanding (through informed consent) (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009, p. 100). According to Beauchamp & Childress (2009) to respect autonomous agents, one must acknowledge their right to hold views, to make choices, and to take actions based on their personal values and beliefs (p. 103). Respect for autonomy implies thaturges caregivers to respect theassist a patient in achieving? Heed? the autonomous choices of their patients. From there, patients can act intentionally and with full understanding when evaluating medical treatment modalities. Autonomy also includes a set of rules, one of which requires that providers honor patient decision-making rights by providing the truth, also known as veracity (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009, p. 103). In this case, several facets of the principle of respecting autonomy, specifically veracity, informed

To begin with the person is the centre of the plan, to be consulted with and their views must always come first: It should include all aspects of their care, and every professional should work together to provide it. (Leathard 2000) Autonomy refers to an individuals’ ability to come to his or her own decisions and requires nurses to respect the choices patients make concerning their own lives (Hendrick 2000).However Gillon Argues that the principle respect for autonomy may need some restriction, otherwise we may be morally obliged to respect an autonomous course of action with unthinkable consequences.( Gillon 1986) Every human being has an intrinsic value, they all have a right to well being, to self-fulfilment and to as much control over their own lives as is consistent with others (British Association of Social Workers 2002).Professional Judgement and patient preference cannot be suspended if practice is to be safe and effective rather than routine(DOH 2005) Alex had to attend this session as it was within his Timetable, how could it have been effective?, he was unhappy and

In terms of the intensity and duration, the disease is life-long and is accompanied by increasing emotional and physical pain. Most of this pain is derived from slowly loosing major bodily functions like walking, speaking, eating, blinking, and even breathing (Canadian medical journal: http://www.cmaj.ca) The extent of those affected include himself and his family members who are most likely suffering emotionally as well. The degree of pain and the extent to which this pain affects others is greater than the pleasure that could be derived from allowing the disease to progress further in answering no to Rob’s request. Thus, under utilitarian principles, the doctor should uphold Rob’s request for physician-assisted death.

Why would this be the case? By offering a patient the decision to have a procedure or treatment done to them or not, you are honoring their autonomy, simply by giving them a choice. Though in this case, they are in no sense informed and cannot make a choice based on their best interests. However, by allowing the patient to be informed about the various benefits, risks, and outcomes from the particular treatment or treatments, they can more accurately determine the course of action that best fits with their

This risk should not be taken. Eventually others, like those with mental illness, could seek this treatment as well (Smith). They wouldn’t have the right to decide if they want to go through with euthanasia, so maybe their relative, who is tired of paying for treatment, could petition for euthanasia. If the state has custody they could also pursue the cheapest option. The physician’s ruthlessness could kill many people everywhere. If this is a possibility so much of the hope could disappear. Death is essentially giving up. “Murder and Suicide are both forms of killing,” States M. Scott Peck. Physician assisted suicide could lead to an even worse law.

Autonomy is more than a bioethical principle that promotes an individual’s ability to choose their own life path. It is a concept that varies by kind and by degrees. While Western medicine holds patient autonomy as a right, every right has its limitations. One such constraint on an individual’s autonomy, is the individual deciding whether or not to take a medication for their mental illness. This was the case for one of Dr. Brendel’s patients, “Lisa.” In this essay, I suggest that even though Lisa is depressed, Lisa made an autonomous decision to take her medication; and if she refused to take her medication, I would not obtain a court order.

Autonomy can be defined as self-determination, self-rule, or self-governance. (3) The legitimate idea of autonomy fills in as the reason for various choices ensuring a man's substantial honesty. Specifically, cases have held that skilled grown-ups or youngsters' folks have the privilege to pick regardless of whether to experience medical intercessions. (4) Before individuals settle on such a decision, they have a privilege to be educated of actualities that may be material to their decision, for example, the nature of their condition and its prognosis, the potential dangers and advantages of a proposed test or treatment, and the contrasting options to the proposed intercession. Individuals additionally have a privilege to be educated about and to control the consequent utilization of tissue that has

For patients who have chronic diseases and conditions their autonomy is questionable. Autonomy has two key features first, an autonomous action is done after deliberation or reflection which has been determined after information gathering and priority setting (Ackerman, 1982, p.3). Second, people intentionally and voluntarily make choices based off of their life plans (Ackerman, 1982, p.3). Then along comes four constraints which can hinder individuals autonomy. First, there is physical constraints such as individuals living in abject poverty who have so little to deliberate adequately or act on life plans. Second, cognitive constraints comes from an individuals lack of knowledge and their inability to understand information, such as people

Nursing is an all encompassing profession in which practitioners are not only proficient in technical medical functionality, they also have the obligation to remain compassionate and respectful of patients and as such are expected to adhere to pre established codes of ethics. Of these ethics, autonomy is of extreme importance as it offers patients a sense of personal authority during a time where they may feel as if their lives, or at the very least their health, is no longer under their control. Autonomy in the context of nursing allocates the patient and often their family with the final word on the course of treatment. The concept of patient autonomy is a highly variable subject in all fields of health care. It is a universal concept that varies widely in its meaning and interpretation. Autonomy in its simplest form can be defined as a state of independence or self governing (Atkins, 2006). Patient autonomy can also be defined as the ability to make once own decisions, based on one’s sound judgment. It is defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2011) as the "agreement to respect another 's right to self determine a course of action; support of independent decision making." This seemingly straight forward ethical concept is rife with difficulties when one considers potential disagreements that may arise even when informed consent is provided, particularly among children or vulnerable people. Relevant research and

1) Patients have the right to make their own informed decisions about if and how they die. When a chronically ill patient decides life is no longer worth living because of the insurmountable pain they are in, who are we to tell them differently? There are cases where attempts to cure are doing more harm than good, not only mentally and physically to the patient, but emotionally to his family and loved ones as well.

As an administrator I would need to take into consideration the patient’s autonomy, autonomy is recognizing an individual’s right to make his/her own decisions about what is best for them regarding their health care (Pozgar, 2012). The patient’s rights always should be considered before any decisions are made by any other family members. In this scenario it is clear that the patient is unable to make any decisions, the patient has suffered a serious brain damage, and although it is not complete brain death, we must determine how to proceed.

Autonomy applies to the profession of nursing because the patient should always be allowed to make decisions regarding their care while being treated with respect and dignity; however, autonomy can serve as a limiting agent when the patient decides to refuse care that would be of benefit to them. Autonomy is a sensitive issue because it allows the patient to choose to die and all health care can do from that point is allow the patient to do so comfortably. With healthcare always being one step ahead, it allows a surrogate to serve as a voice piece for that patient when they are unable to make decisions. However, that surrogate can end up making decisions they think is best for the patient ignoring the patients’ will. The responsibility of the nurse and interdisciplinary team is to inform and educate the patient and patient’s surrogate on all aspects of care to include medical diagnosis, treatment, and care plan so that the patient and

The ethical dilemma in case 1 is autonomy and non-maleficence. The physician writes an order for respiratory therapy to turn off the ventilator and extubate the patient and what would you do in that case. I think I would carry out the order because it was both the patient’s and family’s own decision. There was no evidence of cognitive impairment, the patient was awake and alert as they took him out of the sedation and said that