Death with Dignity
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Ball State University *
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Medicine
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Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by summerhubbard18
Death with Dignity
Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives through self-administered medication. The Act was created in 1997 and the act must be approved
by a physician. Brittany Maynard was an activist and an advocate for the legalization of physician assisted suicide for those who were terminally ill, she had terminal cancer and she ended her life with assisted suicide. In a state where physician assisted suicide is legal, there must be three criteria met in order for a patient to continue with the process. The terminal illness comes with a prognosis of having 6 months or less to live, the patient must be fit to make this decision, and it must be voluntary. I think this process must be very hard for those that are impacted. Families may have to sit with their loved ones while they make this decision, maybe even accompany them. Brittany Maynard was surrounded by loved ones when she passed. I believe since this process must be approved by
a physician there may be some who will not approve any due to their moral values, the same with nurses, perhaps they will not assist due to their values. According to the ANA, Nurses are able to refuse to participate in abortion due to moral grounds. I believe there would be chaplains who would participate in physician-assisted suicide, but I also believe there would be many who would not, due to religious values. This would bring up many issues especially to those who want a chaplain present when they are passing, many people do. All of these professionals do have a legal right to participate in physician assisted suicide due to moral values, so it is likely that many refuse to participate. This may make it harder for terminally ill patients seeking out physician assisted suicide, and could make resources less limited.
References: Frequently asked questions
. Oregon Health Authority : Frequently Asked Questions : Death with
Dignity Act : State of Oregon. (n.d.). https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/providerpartnerresources/evaluationresearch/
deathwithdignityact/pages/faqs.aspx#whatis Lynn, J. (n.d.). Conceptual, legal, and ethical considerations in physician-assisted ...
Conceptual, Legal, and Ethical Considerations in Physician-Assisted Death. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525943/ Peralta, E. (2014, November 3). As planned, right-to-die advocate Brittany Maynard ends her life
. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/11/03/361094919/as-planned-
right-to-die-advocate-brittany-maynard-ends-her-life SRH advocacy
. ANA. (2022, October 18). https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-
environment/health-safety/srh-advocacy/
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