IHP-420 7-1 Discussion
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Southern New Hampshire University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
420
Subject
Medicine
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by GrandThunder8251
Happy Thursday!
The discussion case this week involves Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old who was
diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. After the terminal diagnosis, she moved from California to Oregon, a state with a Death with Dignity Act, to exercise her right to end-
of-life medications. Brittany was given six months to live with no treatment options. Instead of waiting to succumb to her disease slowly, she left her home and established a residence in Oregon so she could be prescribed life-ending medications. I currently work in pediatric research, and we see all types of diseases, from neurology to oncology. Watching our little patient’s health deteriorate week after week after exhausting all their treatment options is heartwrenching. Of course, selfishly, we want all the time we can get with our loved ones who are terminally ill. But at some point, the quality of life is no longer there, and for those who no longer wish to live in that condition they should have the right to choose. I think my professional and personal
positions are the same on topic. I have had family members in the same condition, and there came a point where the inevitable was just being prolonged, and the excruciating pain they experienced while waiting for nature to take its course was horrible. I currently live in Texas, where it is illegal for a provider to provide life-ending medication, and there is no legislation. When we look at the five pillars of ethics Autonomy and Non-Maleficence would most support my position. Patients have the right to make their own mental and healthcare decicions and autonomy would endorse medical assisted death if the patient was an adult with decision making capacity. Non-maleficensce is do no harm which would also support medically assisted deaths as forcing a patient to to be in extreme pain without options for relief could be viewed as harm. In any cases the patients should
be informed about all the options available to them and be capable of making decisions for themselves. Another beneficial piece of legislation that was passed in 2018 was the right to try act. This allows patients who are terminally ill a pathway to obtain medications that are not FDA approved and are unable to obtain through other means. Pediatric cancers have made great strides over the years in improving the overall survival rates; however, there are always those patients who do not respond to treatments. For our patients who relapse and exhaust all their options, we often seek investigational medications. We apply through the FDA for single-patient Investigational New Drugs (SINDs). Not all of these medications are new. Some have been used in adults for several years but have not been studied in children, and others may still be under investigation. We have had patients receive a SIND and extend their life several years to where they were able to mark items off their bucket list and get quality time with their families.I think options not
only offers up potential treatments for patients but also allows us to learn more about the medications. As I was researching information I thought to myself about life insurance and I was curious on what their stance is on the topic. Would they pay out a policy for someone who had seeked assistance in dying? I was surprised to find out that in most cases as long as there is a clear case made and all legal requirements are met life-
insurers will still pay claims. Best of Luck, Danelle
References
Fulmer, R. (2014). Physician-Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, and Counseling Ethics
. American Counseling Association. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/vistas/article_53.pdf?
sfvrsn=5677d2c_10
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help