Topic: Euthanasia Clinical Roles Reflective analysis

Euthanasia Clinical Roles. Why is euthanasia such a controversial issue? What is the main idea on both sides of the argument?
• How does religion impacts one’s view on euthanasia?
• Does the legal system have the right to intervene in one’s decision?
• Should there be an age criteria and specific medical diagnosis? If so, why?

Answers:-

Understanding Euthanasia

Euthanasia has attracted a continued debate between the proponents and opponents of the practice. Euthanasia is a practice in which a patient makes voluntary request persistently for medically assisted suicide. Following the patient’s request, the physician prescribes lethal pharmacological agent. The patient is initially allowed to take the drug orally. In cases where the patient cannot orally take the drug, the physician administers the drug (Kim, Vries, & Peteet, 2016). The following essay discusses the debate on euthanasia, the religious and legal aspects of euthanasia, and age criteria and specific medical diagnosis that warrant euthanasia.

Controversy on Euthanasia (Euthanasia Clinical Roles)

Euthanasia is a controversial issue all over the world. Some countries have legally allowed the practice of euthanasia, for instance, The Netherlands. In several other countries, euthanasia is not legally allowed although there are sections of societies proposing for its legalization. Other sections of society are opposed to the opinion of legalizing euthanasia (Harris, 2018).
Proponents of euthanasia argue that patients have the right to determine the fate of their lives. The sections of the society that advocate for euthanasia argue that the law that governs family planning, the right to life, marriage, and provision of health care services is the same law that should legalize euthanasia. The proponents of euthanasia argue that the law on autonomy should be enacted on euthanasia. In other words, individuals should be granted autonomy to give consent for termination of their lives (Kim, Vries, & Peteet, 2016).
Besides, proponents of euthanasia argue that euthanasia is best regulated when the government enacts a law to permit the practice. According to this argument, some form of illegal patient-assisted-suicide could be practiced in countries where euthanasia is illegal. In order to control such practice, euthanasia should be legalized. Part of the legalization should be to specify on the circumstances under which euthanasia is carried out. Such a law specifies the methods used in executing euthanasia. Therefore, legalization of euthanasia is a way through which the practice is controlled (Harris, 2018).
The opponents to euthanasia argue that there are alternative ways to relieve symptoms of terminal illnesses. There are already existing alternative ways to manage the symptoms of terminal illnesses such as palliative care (Zimmermann, 2016).
According to the opponents, legalization of euthanasia will increase the chances of clinician’s initiated patient suicide. The law permitting the implementation of euthanasia will potentially give physicians control over decisions on ending patients’ lives. The law increases the probability that clinicians decide the circumstances under which patient life is worth or not worth living.
Religious Influence on Euthanasia
Most of the religions oppose the practice of euthanasia. Religions view life as sacred. Most common religions hold that life should be preserved. Therefore, religious believers maintain the idea that life should be perceived as sacred. Religious believers are opposed to the practice of euthanasia based on their view of life. Followers of religious ideologies believe that it is not their role to decide on the fate of their lives (Fletcher, 2015).
The Legal System Euthanasia
The legal system has the right to intervene in one’s decision. The law intervenes in one’s decision under specific circumstances. The law also does not permit minors to make decisions concerning their care. Mental capacity limits the ability of the individual to make decisions on euthanasia (Keown, 2018).

Age Criteria and Medical Diagnosis

According to my own opinion, there should be an age limit for persons who make decisions on euthanasia. Minors should not be allowed to make decisions on euthanasia. The medical conditions that should warrant requests for euthanasia should also be specified. The indicated medical diagnosis should include conditions whose prognosis is poor or conditions that are associated with severe pain, for instance, metastasized tumors (Harris, 2018). Contact us for a top paper on the same or different topic.

Euthanasia Clinical Roles. References

Fletcher, J. F. (2015). Morals and Medicine: the moral problems of the patient’s right to know the truth, contraception, artificial insemination, sterilization, euthanasia. Princeton University Press.
Harris, J. M. (2018). Euthanasia: grief and bereavement. In BSAVA Manual of Avian Practice (pp. 187-190). BSAVA Library.
Keown, J. (2018). Euthanasia, ethics and public policy: an argument against legalisation. Cambridge University Press.
Kim, S. Y., De Vries, R. G., & Peteet, J. R. (2016). Euthanasia and assisted suicide of patients with psychiatric disorders in the Netherlands 2011 to 2014. JAMA psychiatry, 73(4), 362-368.
Zimmermann, N. (2016). A matter of life or death: the euthanasia debate under a human rights perspective. ex ante, (2), 41-48.