The Death Of Terminally Ill Patients

We are culturally ingrained from an early age that life is precious and each day is a gift. Life should not be squandered but preserved.  We are encouraged to live with a purpose, cherish our loved ones and live life to its fullest. But what if life becomes too physically painful to endure, often experienced by many terminally ill patients suffering an incurable disease, or a chronically ill elderly person who lacks the ability to thrive?  For forty-five day’s I watched my chronically ill mother languish away in a hospice care facility. The experience was emotionally and financially draining, and I began questioning whether a person should have the right to choose when and how to end their life. In the United States, assisted dying is a widely debated and passionate issue. Opponents argue preserving life, regardless of how much a person is suffering, is an ethical and moral responsibility, determined only by a higher power.  At the other end of the spectrum are those who support a person’s right to end their life with dignity at a time of their choosing.   Wouldn’t my mother’s suffering been greatly reduced if her doctor was legally and ethically permitted to administer a lethal cocktail of drugs to end her life quickly and painlessly? Wouldn’t the prevailing memory of my mother see her in a better light instead of helplessly watching her undignified death? To deny terminal and chronically ill people the freedom to end their

Who dictates how you live your life? How does one define life and when that life should end? If you become terminally ill, would you like the choice to choose how your life ends? In the United States, assisted suicide, is a highly-debated issue. On one side, there are many in support of allowing a person the right to end their life with dignity at the time of their choosing. While others believe, it is a moral right to sustain life and leave a person’s exit from this world to a higher power. The two opposing viewpoints have both compassionate reasons and disadvantages; nevertheless, a person’s human rights as an individual are the most important aspect to uphold.

Many Americans are diagnosed with a terminal illness each day. Hearing that kind of news and knowing there is less than a year left to live and the quality of life would no doubt be heartbreaking. During the last few months of a terminal patient’s life they are often in tremendous pain and suffering. Those with terminal illnesses are treated with life prolonging measures including chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments and the illness itself often leave the patient 's feeling as if they are a shell of who they were and miserable. “Numerous ailments such as certain types of cancer result in a slow, agonizing death” (Messerli, Joe). Physician Assisted Suicide allows

In almost every case of a terminal disease, pain is intolerable and seeing someone in such agony is heartbreaking. For example, Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old brain cancer patient who had to move to Oregon so she can avail of the Death with Dignity act. “Maynard knew that her form of brain cancer would be excruciating. She would endure swelling of the brain that would very likely cause seizures, painful headaches and the gradual loss of bodily function. Doctors know that for about 5 percent of the population, no amount of morphine can block the agonizing pain the terminally ill endure” (EDITORIAL: Dying with dignity). Palliative care can often be provided for the dying patients and alleviating pain to provide comfort for the dying has always been the priority. “Palliative care focuses on relieving the symptoms, particularly the pain, of incurable illness.” (Palliative Care) But, in relieving pain through the prescribed medications there are also side effects that are caused by the prescribed pain suppressors and two examples will be lethargy and it compromises breathing. In most cases the effectivity of the pain medication may no longer alleviate the pain. If a patient will be in such agony for the remaining days or weeks the quality of life is no longer present. The agony of pain prevents a patient from performing even just the bodily functions.

People who suffer excruciating, chronic, or terminally ill disorders usually want to end their life early. This is a drastic decision for someone to make. However, if a person if fully aware and competent to make the decision, then they ought to have the right to take their life. “Physician-assisted suicide, in the United States, currently has become most associated with doctors aiding terminally ill clients in ending their lives since, often, these clients are too disabled to carry out a successful suicide attempt on their own. Thus, acts of voluntary active euthanasia must be separated from suicide and the right-to-die movement which carries with it the connotation of terminal status and implies the right for those in physical pain, those incapacitated, and those requiring relief from bodily suffering” (Grosswald, 2002). Out of 3299 U.S oncologists who are members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, only 22.5 were in support of physician-assisted suicide, but, “for a terminally ill patient with prostate cancer who had unremitting pain despite optimal pain management” (Emanuel et al, 2000). Their research shows characteristics between all oncologist, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and pediatric oncologist. Other characteristics include age, sex percentage, and

Terminal illnesses are terrible diseases that will ultimately end in death. What many people do not understand is that many terminal illnesses can cause an inability to function. Which is challenging for patients that have lived independently. The frustration of them not being able to function at the level they are used to would consume them. Although there are many reasons to ask for a life-ending medication, in 2014, Oregon reported that the inability to partake in events, the loss of independence, and the loss of dignity were among the top reasons why patients requested the medication (Goodale, Grossman, and Grundy 16). In addition to the patient's feelings, it can be as tough for the family of the patient. As humans, one of the most difficult things to do is to watch someone we love struggle. Physician assisted suicide would end the

Some believe that physician-assisted suicide (PAS) goes against the laws of God. The Ten Commandments command us: “Thou Shall Not Kill.” Of course, even those of faith who are suffering from an incurable, chronic or terminal illness may shake their fist at God and cry, “why me? “Given that end-of-life care is expensive, others argue that the use of PAS or euthanasia will makes pawns out of patients and create an economic boon for hospitals and health insurance companies. They believe that PAS and euthanasia serve to cut costs, therefore, “eliminating” Grandma equals a rise in profits. Others argue vehemently, that PAS and euthanasia are akin to the Nazi party practice of killing the ill and disabled as a “final solution.” These arguments are reasoned which is why state laws for administering PAS and euthanasia should be followed to the letter. Most states with legal PAS use guidelines that allow it if two physicians concur with its use and if the person has six months or less to live. If mental health or cognitive issues are involved, a psychiatrist is consulted. Gray areas persist, however, who really knows for sure if a person will die in six months or less? Does a patient’s refusal of a treatment such as chemotherapy turn hope into a death warrant? Many questions for now are left unanswered; nevertheless, it is always the patient’s voice that must speak the loudest. This war for “the right to

Suffering is a constant companion of humans today; people experience it every day, whether it be emotional or physical, internal or external. Living with a terminal illness is also living with suffering, both because of the physical pain that is felt, and also the emotional blows the patient experiences every day. A terminally ill patient has a monumental part of their life taken from them. Few aspects of life still remain in their control, because of doctors, family members, and the illness itself. However, there is a practice that places a final decision, the right to choose the circumstances of death, with the patient. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS), or physician

After years of fighting for someone, somewhere in the United States , recognized the right to practice euthanasia in Oregon, it was held the first legal assisted suicide in the history of this country.

The article “When a Patient Discusses Assisted Dying: Nursing Practice Implication ,” discusses some of the ethical and legal issues regarding patients who are interested in assisted dying . The subject of assisted dying in the media, nationally and internationally, is argued on both sides. Britney Maynard was a patient with incurable brain cancer who blogged about how she moved to Oregon to receive the lethal prescription. The article discusses how patients feel mentally after receiving the news of their terminal illness and how it can lead to depression. Depression can compromise patients’ decision making, especially while being in a hospice setting. Also, patients’ choices can change as they near the end of their lives. Most patients would rather spend their last days at home where they can make their own

About a century ago, when new technologies such as the artificial respirator and morphine spiked, the right to die law came up. The right to die law gives terminally ill patients the ability to end their life. Today, in the United States only five states have passed the right to die law. All terminally ill patients, should have the option open to them in all fifty states. With the right to die law comes a variety of opinions, along with uprising questions, and stories of people who did or should have been able to chose their death.

“The hardest part of losing a loved one, isn’t having to say goodbye, but rather seeing them suffer from the pain”. Many individuals have not been able to answer the question: should terminally ill patients have the right to end their lives? Terminally ill patients should have a right to end their own lives with dignity rather than suffering from agony, because the pain is unbearable, families watch love one’s die slowly, and patients become extremely depressed.

About 55% of terminally ill patients die in atrocious pain. Euthanasia is a practice that hasn’t been legalized in many places, and is usually performed by lethal injection. In the United States euthanasia is only legalized in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and certain areas of Texas. Some citizens feel that euthanasia should be legalized because they should have the sole right to their life. Others feel that God is the one that has the authority over a person’s life. There have been many cases where people have to go to court in order to have euthanasia performed on them.

      Death is deeply personal, generally feared, and wholly inescapable, but medical technology now can prolong our biological existence virtually indefinitely, and, with these advances, comes the question of whether we should pursue the extension of life in all cases.  Most people would agree that, under certain circumstances, it would be preferable to cease our hold on life.  Nearly everyone can agree that there are situations when terminally ill patients have the right to call for a halt to life-extending treatments, and that their physicians will have the moral obligation to comply.  What appears to be quite difficult for us as a society to come to terms with is the thought that someone would

The moment we 're born, we have already began the spiral into death. As technology advances, medical advances follow suite. These advances carry with them prolonged life, lengthening our lives. But as our lives lengthen we find ourselves confronted with the undeniable truth that in the cat and mouse game of life and death, death always wins. As, we arrive at the tail end of the bell curve of life, we find ourselves overcome with pain and suffering. In an attempt to alleviate suffering, alternatives are sought. The first chapter examines the background of the end of life options available in California for a person with brain cancer with less than six months to live. Next, I will continue, by presenting the underlying questions which will be used to answer.