Assignment 1g Assisted Death: Rights and Obligations
Assisted death legislation has been one of the most controversial issues in Canada. Familiarize yourself with this issue by reading the articles found in Chapter 4 of the textbook and also posted in the Week 11 module. The two articles which discuss professional autonomy and professional responsibility are:
Patient and Physician Autonomy: Conflicting Rights and Obligations in the Physician-Patient Relationship, Edmund D. Pellegrino
Why Medical Professionals Have No Moral Claim to Conscientious Objection Accommodation in Liberal Democracies, Udo Schuklenk and Ricardo Smalling
Using sources provided by your instructor or by searching the literature, read 3-5 other articles (provide a reference list) on assisted death and conscientious objection. After reading and reflection, respond to the following
statements/questions:
1.
Discuss your initial impressions of assisted death legislation in Canada.
2.
Define conscientious objection and explain the role that conscientious objection plays in health care delivery. 3.
Describe the approach Pellegrino takes in his exploration of the moral conflicts that exist between patients and physicians regarding autonomy?
4.
Describe the approach Schuklenk and Smalling take in their exploration of the moral conflicts that exist between patients and physicians regarding autonomy?
5.
In liberal democracies where all individuals have both rights and responsibilities, explain what actions could be taken when patient/health professional rights and professional obligations regarding assisted death are in conflict.
