Reference no: EM133523274

Decisions surrounding end-of-life care for patients can be difficult and daunting for families and caregivers. Additionally, for clinical and administrative caregivers, the added stress of "doing the right thing," or following legal protocols often induces additional stress and self-reflection. Consequently, caregivers and patients often struggle between quality-of-life verses extension of life. Medical technologies are used to provide an extension of life; however, questions persist as quality of life is weighed. Pozgar (2023) states that, "the human struggle to survive and dreams of immortality have long been instrumental in inspiring medicine to develop the means to prevent and cure illness. Advances in medical technology have resulted in the power to prolong a productive life, as well as to delay inevitable death. Those victims of long-term pain and suffering, as well as patients in vegetative states and irreversible comas, are mostly directly affected" (p.487).

We will examine how ethical decision-making processes and patient autonomy are associated with end-of-life decisions in the health care delivery system. It is important to note that Pozgar (2023) suggests, "medical ethics does not require that a patient's life be preserved at all costs and in all circumstances. Competent patients may decide whether a particular medical treatment is in their best interest without conflicting with the ethical integrity of the medical profession" (p.487). It is vital that the health care delivery system provide patient autonomy as a single aspect of "duty to choose". In other words, the right to be free from restraint or interference from others to choose the best course of action for self is protected under common law.

In this week's discussion address the following questions from the Pozgar text.

1. Discuss the human struggle to survive and the right to autonomous decision making.

2. Describe how patient autonomy has been impacted by case law and legislative enactments.

3. Explain end of life issues as they relate to autopsy, organ donation, research, experimentation, clinical trials.

4. Describe how human genetics and stem cell research can have an impact on end-of-life issues.

5. Define terms: preservation of life with limits, euthanasia, advanced directives, futility of treatment, withholding and withdraw of treatment, do-not-resuscitate orders.