Reference no: EM133535704

Case Study: In recent years, several terminally ill people have made headlines as they sought help with ending their lives. Some have been children, yet people from every stage of adulthood have turned to physicians to help with dying on their own terms, which has been termed "Death with Dignity." In the United States, there is an ongoing moral and ethical debate surrounding the practice. Most states have an advocacy group attempting to make Death with Dignity legal, you will explore what these options really mean, what some of the moral and ethical debates are surrounding it, and what the role of advanced directives is in ensuring terminally ill and aging patients are treated the way they would prefer.

To prepare, review the resources provided in this week, such as those from Lee (2014, 2015) and McManus (2012), regarding the concept of Death with Dignity and its implementation in places such as Oregon. Consider how modern Death with Dignity practices align or conflict with those used by physicians in the past (e.g., Dr. Jack Kevorkian). What is the difference between passive and active euthanasia? Discuss the role you think a physician plays in Death with Dignity.

BY DAY 3

Questions: Post an analysis of perspectives and issues regarding Death with Dignity. Your analysis should include the following:

• Briefly describe the two sides of the moral, ethical, and legal debates over Death with Dignity.
• Describe what alternatives could be offered in the event that Death with Dignity could not be offered to a patient. Explain.
• Explain in what situations you would or would not support Death with Dignity. Be sure to provide specific examples from the week's Resources to support your explanation.