HLT-312v Week 5 Discussion 1

Assess the ethical issues surrounding end-of-life decisions. How has the living will affected medical response and why is this important for guiding end-of-life decisions? Should families be able to impact how and if a person’s living will is carried out? Should parents have the right to choose to end the life of their child if the child has Down Syndrome?

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The ethical issues surrounding end-of-life decisions

Introduction

End-of-life decisions are complex and stressful. They are also complicated by the fact that there are no clear-cut answers to these questions. In fact, there is no one right answer for everyone involved in your loved one’s care. You may have read about organ donation or the DNR order, but what does that mean? How can you use those terms? Let’s explore some of the ethical issues surrounding end-of-life decisions so you can make an informed decision for yourself or someone else close to you who might need help with these difficult decisions:

DNR/DNI/DNH

• DNR stands for do not resuscitate, which means that the patient is not to be given any medical treatment or assistance.

• If a patient has been on a ventilator and it is removed, they will still need to breathe because their lungs are not working properly. It’s important that you make sure your loved one knows about the risks of being without oxygen in the case of sudden cardiac arrest (SOCA). This can cause brain damage or even death.

• DNI stands for do not intubate; this refers to getting an endotracheal tube placed into your throat so doctors can give life-supporting medications through it directly into your lungs instead of giving them through IV lines attached directly onto veins inside your arms or legs – this helps prevent infections from spreading throughout your body while keeping oxygen flowing freely throughout all parts of its bloodstream!

Organs for transplantation

Organ transplantation is a good thing. Donors should be fully informed of the risks and benefits of their decision to donate, as well as how the organ will be used after transplantation. The transplant team should respect the wishes of donors regarding how their organs are removed from them in order to serve society—for example, if you want your heart or liver transplanted into another person but they don’t want this option available then it would be unethical to proceed with the removal process until they change their mind (or until they pass away).

It’s also important that researchers are transparent about what they do so that people can make informed choices about donating tissues or organs after death.

Organ donation

Donation is a good way to help others. It’s also a personal decision, and you should be able to make it on your own terms. If you’re considering donating your organs but aren’t sure how or where to start, we have some resources available here at the University of California San Francisco ( UCSF ) that can help guide you through this process:

• The Donate Life website provides information about donation in general, as well as resources for those who wish to become organ donors themselves.

• The National Organ Transplantation Network offers information about becoming an organ donor and how it will impact your family members if they receive one of your transplants.

Do not resuscitate order

The DNR order is an order to not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This means that if your loved one is in a terminal condition or has an irreversible condition, you should not try to save them.

If you are unsure of what constitutes “terminal” or “irreversible,” consult with your doctor and ask them if they feel comfortable giving such orders while they apply their expertise in this area.

Doing what is best for the patient is the most important thing.

The most important thing is to do what’s best for the patient. Do not resuscitate orders are a way to let a terminally ill person die with dignity, rather than prolonging their suffering by keeping them on a life support machine.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to decide what is best for the patient. It can be difficult to think about this, but it’s important to remember that there are no “wrong” decisions to make in a situation like this. It’s just about doing what you think will maximize their quality of life and comfort before it ends because no matter how much we want someone else’s body parts, there is only one person who matters more than anything else when it comes down to making these types of decisions: your loved ones.