Describe why there is such a struggle when addressing end-of-life issues
Assignment Description:
For this week assignment, write a 1500-word essay addressing each of the following points/questions.
- Describe why there is such a struggle when addressing end-of-life issues
- What are the differences between allowing a patient to die and physician-assisted suicide?
- Discuss the controversy that can occur when considering a patient’s right to know whether a caregiver has AIDS and the caregiver’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
- Describe the distinctions among wrongful birth, wrongful life, and wrongful conception. Discuss the moral dilemmas of these concepts
- Discuss the arguments for and against partial birth abortions
- Discuss why there is controversy over genetic markers and stem cell research
Please combine all of these responses into a single Microsoft Word document for submission. Submit only completed assignments (not partial or “draft” assignments). Be thorough in your responses to adequately address all aspects of each question.
Submit only the assignments corresponding to the module in this section.
M2 Assignment UMBO – 4
M2 Assignment PLG – 4, 6
M2 Assignment CLO – 3, 5, 6
The following specifications are required for this assignment:
- Length: 1500 words; answers must thoroughly address the questions in a clear, concise manner.
- Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA style. These do not count towards the minimum word count for this assignment.
- References: Use the appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions. Include at least six (6) scholarly sources to support your claims, one for each of the six questions.
- Format: Save your assignment as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).
- File Name: Name your saved file according to your first initial, last name, and the assignment number (for example, “RHall Assignment 1.docx”)
Verified Answer
Legal and Ethical Issues in the Healthcare Industry
The healthcare sector focuses on different aspects of care and can be used to help provide the most efficient treatment and healing. However, there are various forms of health practices that have legal and ethical issues which ought to be addressed. For instance, end-of-life care, abortions, and other moral dilemmas can interfere with the nature in which care providers are to address an issue related to healthcare delivery. Be that as it may, understanding the different ways in which legal and ethical issues affect the healthcare sector can help in creating a more efficient way to increase patient outcomes.
Describe why there is such a struggle when addressing end-of-life issues
End-of-life issues refer to the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that arise as a person nears the end of their life. These issues can be difficult to address, both for the individual facing the end of life and for their loved ones (Leget & Kohlen, 2020). Addressing end-of-life issues can be challenging due to a lack of clear communication and planning, financial strain, emotional difficulties, cultural and religious differences, and limited access to quality care. It is important for individuals and their loved ones to be proactive in addressing these issues and seeking support as needed.
One of the main struggles with end-of-life issues is the financial burden that the care can place on individuals and their families. Medical treatment and palliative care can be expensive, and many people do not have sufficient insurance coverage or financial resources to cover these costs (Leget & Kohlen, 2020). This can lead to financial strain and stress for families trying to make difficult end-of-life decisions.
The other major struggle in addressing end-of-life issues is the lack of clear communication and planning. Many people do not have an advance directive, which is a document that outlines their wishes for end-of-life care. Without an advance directive, loved ones may be left to make decisions about medical treatment, palliative care, and other end-of-life issues without clear guidance (Leget & Kohlen, 2020).
This can lead to disagreement and conflict among family members, which can be emotionally difficult for everyone involved. Healthcare professionals might also be limited by the lack of clear direction from the family to make it difficult to make the required outcomes.
Cultural and religious beliefs can also play a role in end-of-life struggles. Different cultures and religions have different beliefs about death, dying, and end-of-life care (Leget & Kohlen, 2020). These beliefs can influence the decisions that individuals and their families make about end-of-life care. For instance, some cultures may place a greater emphasis on prolonging life at all costs, while others may prioritize comfort and quality of life.
The emotional toll of end-of-life issues can also be significant for the patient, family, and care providers. For the individual facing the end of their life, there may be feelings of fear, sadness, and anxiety about what lies ahead. For their loved ones, there may be grief and sadness at the thought of losing someone they love (Leget & Kohlen, 2020).
Dealing with these emotions can be difficult, and many people may need support from counselors or support groups to help them cope. Finally, access to quality end-of-life care can be a struggle for many people. In some cases, individuals may live in areas where access to hospice care or other palliative services is limited. This can make it difficult for them to receive the care and support they need as they near the end of their life.
What are the differences between allowing a patient to die and physician-assisted suicide?
Different forms of end-of-life care can be used within the healthcare sector to help patients make the decisions they need (Dierickx et al., 2020). To begin with, allowing a patient to die focuses on the strategies that care providers use to allow for a dignified death. By allowing the patient to die, the care providers refrain from administering any form of care or aid and engages in non-resuscitation to allow the patient to succumb to the disease.
The process doe not entail any use of lethal injection or mercy killing (Dierickx et al., 2020). On the other hand, physician-assisted suicide also known as assisted dying or aid-in-dying, refers to the practice of a physician providing a patient with the means to end their own life, typically through the prescription of a lethal dose of medication (Pozgar, 2020).
Discuss the controversy that can occur when considering a patient’s right to know whether a caregiver has AIDS and the caregiver’s right to privacy and confidentiality
In the healthcare sector, it is customary for care providers to undertake cautionary measures against patients with different diseases (Pozgar, 2020). However, there are controversies over the need and right for patients to learn about the health status of a nurse with specificity on AIDS status. Since AIDS is easily transmitted from one person to the other, contention arises over the safety of the patient considering that the care providers use sharp objects that can infect the patients.
The main controversy is the conflict between sharing information with those that might directly be affected and the right to privacy and confidentiality (Pozgar, 2020). Sharing the information infringes on the right to privacy and at the same time improves the nature in which the patient safeguards their health.
Describe the distinctions among wrongful birth, wrongful life, and wrongful conception. Discuss the moral dilemmas of these concepts
Wrongful birth, wrongful life, and wrongful conception are legal terms that refer to lawsuits that may be brought by parents or children who claim that they have suffered harm as a result of medical negligence or other wrongdoing (Pozgar, 2020). Wrongful birth may be brought by parents who claim that they were not properly informed of potential risks or defects related to their child’s conception, pregnancy, or birth and that they would have chosen to terminate the pregnancy if they had been properly informed.
On the other hand, Wrongful life may be brought about by children who claim that they would not have been born if their parents had been properly informed of potential risks or defects and that they have suffered as a result of being born with disabilities (Pozgar, 2020). On the other hand, Wrongful conception may be brought by parents who claim that they were not properly informed of potential risks or defects related to their child’s conception and that they would not have chosen to conceive a child if they had been properly informed.
One moral dilemma is the issue of responsibility. In wrongful birth and wrongful conception, the question may arise as to whether the medical professionals or other parties involved are responsible for the birth of a child with disabilities, and whether they should be held liable for the additional costs and challenges associated with raising such a child (Pozgar, 2020).
Some may argue that the parents should bear the responsibility for their own decision to conceive a child, while others may argue that the medical professionals or other parties had a duty to provide accurate and complete information to the parents. Another moral dilemma is the issue of compensation. In wrongful birth and wrongful life lawsuits, the question may arise as to how much compensation is appropriate for the additional costs and challenges associated with raising a child with disabilities (Pozgar, 2020).
A third moral dilemma is the issue of autonomy. In wrongful birth and wrongful conception lawsuits, the question may arise as to whether the parents have the right to choose whether or not to bring a child with disabilities into the world.
Discuss the arguments for and against partial birth abortions
Partial birth abortion, also known as intact dilation and extraction (IDX), is a medical procedure in which a physician delivers most of a fetus through the cervix and then terminates the pregnancy by collapsing the skull and removing the brain (Rolfes-Haase & Swers, 2022). This procedure has been the subject of significant controversy and legal debate.
Arguments for partial birth abortion often focus on the rights of the woman seeking the procedure and the general principle of autonomy. Some proponents of partial-birth abortion argue that the procedure may be necessary in cases where the health or life of the woman is at risk, or where the fetus has severe abnormalities that would result in a poor quality of life if the pregnancy were to continue (Rolfes-Haase & Swers, 2022).
Arguments against partial-birth abortion often focus on the potential for the procedure to cause pain to the fetus (Rolfes-Haase & Swers, 2022). Similarly, there was an issue with the ethical and moral implications of intentionally terminating a pregnancy in this manner. The main concern is about the nature in which the procedure is unethical and inhumane, and that it violates the right to life of the unborn child.
Discuss why there is controversy over genetic markers and stem cell research
The main controversy involves the use of genetic markers to identify and classify individuals based on their genetic characteristics (Zhou et al., 2019). These classifications denote that the use of genetic markers can lead to discrimination and stigma, particularly when used in conjunction with other forms of personal information.
Others argue that the use of genetic markers can be beneficial in certain situations, such as in the development of personalized medical treatments or the identification of potential genetic risk factors for certain conditions. Another area of controversy involves the use of stem cells in research and medical treatments (Zhou et al., 2019).
Stem cells are cells that can develop into a wide variety of cell types, and they have the potential to be used to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissues. However, the use of stem cells in research and medicine has been the subject of significant ethical debate, particularly when it involves the use of embryonic stem cells, which are derived from human embryos.
References
Dierickx, S., Onwuteaka-Philipsen, B., Penders, Y., Cohen, J., van der Heide, A., Puhan, M. A., … & Chambaere, K. (2020). Commonalities and differences in legal euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in three countries: a population-level comparison. International Journal of Public Health, 65(1), 65-73.
Leget, C., & Kohlen, H. (2020). End of life: Care ethical perspectives. In Contemporary European perspectives on the ethics of end-of-life care (pp. 75-92). Springer, Cham.
Pozgar, G. D. (2020). Legal and ethical issues for health professionals (5th ed.). Jones and Bartlett. ISBN: 9781284144185.
Rolfes-Haase, K. L., & Swers, M. L. (2022). Understanding the gender and partisan dynamics of abortion voting in the house of representatives. Politics & Gender, 18(2), 448-482.
Zhou, J., Chen, Q., Zou, Y., Chen, H., Qi, L., & Chen, Y. (2019). Stem cells and cellular origins of breast cancer: updates in the rationale, controversies, and therapeutic implications. Frontiers in oncology, 9, 820.
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