Week 4 – Case Study On Death And Dying
Week 4 – Case Study On Death And Dying
The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths. This calls for knowledge and understanding of a diversity of faith expressions; for the purpose of this course, the focus will be on the Christian worldview.
Based on “Case Study: End of Life Decisions,” the Christian worldview, and the worldview questions presented in the required topic study materials you will complete an ethical analysis of George’s situation and his decision from the perspective of the Christian worldview.
Provide a 1,500-2,000-word ethical analysis while answering the following questions:
- How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the fallenness of the world?
- How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the hope of resurrection?
- As George contemplates life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), how would the Christian worldview inform his view about the value of his life as a person?
- What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia?
- Given the above, what options would be morally justified in the Christian worldview for George and why?
- Based on your worldview, what decision would you make if you were in George’s situation?
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric.You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
1. Bioethics: A Primer for Christians
Read Chapters 6 and 12 in Bioethics: A Primer for Christians.
http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/wm-b-eerdmans-publishing-co/2013/bioethics_a-primer-for-christians_ebook_3e.php
2. Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing
Read Chapters 10-12 in Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing.
http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/intervarsity-press/2006/called-to-care_a-christian-worldview-for-nursing_ebook_2e.php
3. Defining Death: Medical, Legal and Ethical Issues in the Determination of Death
Read the Introduction and Chapters 1-3 of “Defining Death: Medical, Legal and Ethical Issues in the Determination of Death” by the President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1984).
https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/559345/defining_death.pdf?sequence=1
Rubric (Week 4 – Case Study On Death And Dying)
- Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the fallenness of the world is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. 12%
- Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the hope of resurrection is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. 12%
- Analysis of how the Christian worldview of the man might inform his view about the value of his life as a person with ALS is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials.12%
- Evaluation of which values and considerations the Christian worldview focuses on when deliberating the option of euthanasia for the man is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. 12%
- Evaluation of which options would be justified in the Christian worldview for the man is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. 12%
- Reflection hypothesis of which personal choices would be make if faced with ALS based on personal worldview is clear, relevant, and insightful. 10%
- Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear. 7%
- Clear and convincing argument presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative. 8%
- Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. 5%
- All format elements are correct.5%
- Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error. 5%
Case Study: End of Life Decisions
George is a successful attorney in his mid-fifties. He is also a legal scholar, holding a teaching post at the local university law school in Oregon. George is also actively involved in his teenage son’s basketball league, coaching regularly for their team. Recently, George has experienced muscle weakness and unresponsive muscle coordination. He was forced to seek medical attention after he fell and injured his hip. After an examination at the local hospital following his fall, the attending physician suspected that George may be showing early symptoms for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative disease affecting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The week following the initial examination, further testing revealed a positive diagnosis of ALS.
ALS is progressive and gradually causes motor neuron deterioration and muscle atrophy to the point of complete muscle control loss. There is currently no cure for ALS, and the median life expectancy is between 3 and 4 years, though it is not uncommon for some to live 10 or more years. The progressive muscle atrophy and deterioration of motor neurons leads to the loss of the ability to speak, move, eat, and breathe. However, sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell are not affected. Patients will be wheelchair bound and eventually need permanent ventilator support to assist with breathing.
George and his family are devastated by the diagnosis. George knows that treatment options only attempt to slow down the degeneration, but the symptoms will eventually come. He will eventually be wheelchair bound and be unable to move, eat, speak, or even breathe on his own.
In contemplating his future life with ALS, George begins to dread the prospect of losing his mobility and even speech. He imagines his life in complete dependence upon others for basic everyday functions and perceives the possibility of eventually degenerating to the point at which he is a prisoner in his own body. Would he be willing to undergo such torture, such loss of his own dignity and power? George thus begins inquiring about the possibility of voluntary euthanasia.
Topic 4: Optional Study Materials
Introduction to Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints
“Introduction to Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints,” edited by Torr, from Opposing Viewpoints in Context (2000).
Ethics and Life’s Ending: An Exchange
“Ethics and Life’s Ending: An Exchange,” by Orr and Meilaender, from First Things (2004).
Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equality
“Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equality,” by Anderson, on The Heritage Foundation website (2015).
Pain Management Rather Than Assisted Suicide: The Ethical High Ground
“Pain Management Rather Than Assisted Suicide: The Ethical High Ground,” by Orr, from Pain Medicine (2001).
https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=4883594&site=ehost-live&scope=site
The Higher-Brain Concept of Death: A Christian Theological Appraisal
“The Higher-Brain Concept of Death: A Christian Theological Appraisal,” by Roberts, from Ethics & Medicine (2017).
Three End-of-Life Cases: Resolving Their Moral Dilemmas
“Three End-of-Life Cases: Resolving Their Moral Dilemmas,” by Mirkes, from Ethics & Medicine (2017).
Week 4 – Case Study On Death And Dying
MORE INFO
End of Life Decisions
Introduction
A good conversation about end-of-life decisions is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. The more information you have about how to handle this situation, the better prepared you’ll be when it happens. There are many ways to talk about death with loved ones: from talking about your wishes for how long you want to live at home before passing away; having specific conversations about pain management options; or even just asking how they would like to spend their final moments—all these are ways that families can begin making informed decisions together.
Everyone wants to die well.
Everyone wants to die well. But when it comes down to making end-of-life decisions, there’s a lot of pressure on you to do everything yourself. You don’t have to make these decisions alone; there are many options available for support and guidance.
There are plenty of people who can help: your doctor, family members or friends who care about you, even an attorney or financial planner—or all three! Some doctors may be willing to talk with patients about their concerns around end-of-life decision making; other times they’ll ask specifically what type of medical intervention might be helpful in helping someone maintain his or her quality of life until death occurs naturally (if possible).
If at any point during this process it seems like your loved one is in pain and not understanding their situation clearly enough then it’s important that both parties communicate effectively so everyone understands what needs doing next.*
Only 40% of people discuss their end-of-life wishes with their family or other loved ones.
We all know that it’s important to discuss your end-of-life wishes before they need to be made. But what happens when someone is struggling with a serious illness and doesn’t want to talk about their plans?
The truth: only 40% of people discuss their end-of-life wishes with their family or other loved ones. And, even if you do have those conversations, only 20% will actually write them down so that others can read them later if needed. That’s why it’s so critical for individuals who are at risk for dying from cancer (or any other disease) who want their families and friends to know what they would like done after death—to ensure those plans are in place before the time comes when someone needs them most!
About 90% of dying patients want to be at home but less than half are able to make that choice.
According to the 2014 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Reaching for Recovery report, about 90% of dying patients want to be at home but less than half are able to make that choice.
The reasons for this lack of choice are many:
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The disease may have progressed too far or quickly for hospice staff who aren’t trained in end-of-life care;
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Families who live far away from their loved one may not understand what they need or how long it will take; and/or
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The patient may be too impaired by pain medication or illness to sit up while eating a meal or drinking fluids.
60% of people would prefer hospice care in their last six months, up from 50% in 2000.
Hospice care is a good option for many people. It can help you and your loved ones to feel more at peace and prepare for death. The decision to use hospice care should be made by your doctor, who will discuss with you whether this is the best option for you based on your health conditions and lifestyle choices.
Hospices provide a home-like environment where patients have access to the same services they would receive in an acute-care setting; however, they are not typically staffed 24/7 like an acute hospital. This allows patients greater control over how they are cared for during their final days or weeks of life; however, it also means that there may be times when family members visit without consulting with staff about what needs doing (e., cooking meals).
25% of Medicare spending is on the last two months of life.
The last two months of life are among the most expensive time periods for Medicare spending. The average cost of a hospice stay is $5,000 per month; the average cost of a hospital stay is nearly $30,000 per month.
This high level of expenditure can be attributed to several factors:
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Hospice care tends to be more comprehensive than what hospitals provide at this stage (e.g., physical therapy and other services)
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It’s not uncommon for patients’ families to have personal care attendants who accompany them through their final days and keep them from being isolated from loved ones
66% use aggressive measures to keep a terminally ill person alive, even if that prolongs death.
66% of people surveyed said they would use aggressive measures to keep a terminally ill person alive, even if that prolongs death.
This is a shocking statistic and it can be hard to have conversations about this subject with loved ones. It’s also important that you don’t feel guilty for asking about this; everyone needs support when making end-of-life decisions, and no one wants to feel like their choices aren’t valid or wanted.
It’s possible to have a good conversation about end-of-life care with your loved one without breaking down in tears or anger.
There are times when it’s hard to have a good conversation about end-of-life care with your loved one. Some people feel that talking about death is a taboo subject and others don’t want to think about the end of their life at all.
It is important that you know what you want from this conversation, but also what you do not want. You may feel some discomfort or anger at the thought of discussing death, but if this happens—and it will—do not fight against yourself! Instead, accept your feelings and allow them room in your heart so they can move through without being held back by fear or guilt (or both).
Be honest with yourself as well as other people involved in these decisions: If someone asks if they can “talk” about their life expectancy without upsetting anyone else present then please say yes! It doesn’t matter how long someone lives; there will always come a time when we must face our own mortality head on without denying its existence completely out of fear or denial.”
A healthy conversation about end-of-life decisions can bring families closer together and help everyone feel understood and supported.
A healthy conversation about end-of-life decisions can bring families closer together and help everyone feel understood and supported. It’s important for everyone to have a plan in place, so you know what to expect if the worst happens. Your family will be grateful that you had the conversation, especially if they’re not feeling well or have any questions about what they would like done after your death. If possible, try to talk with your loved ones before making any decisions—it’s better than having one of them surprise you with the news later on down the line!
Your choices matter, and can make a huge difference for yourself and your loved ones
Your choices matter, and can make a huge difference for yourself and your loved ones.
You should have a conversation with your family and doctors about your end-of-life wishes. Your wishes can help them decide how to best care for you after you’ve passed away.
Conclusion
We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this article and feel more equipped to make the right decisions for yourself or your loved ones at the end of life. The information on this website is meant to be educational, not prescriptive; it’s up to each person to decide what they want and need when it comes time for an end-of-life decision. We encourage everyone who reads this blog post (or any other!) to consider their own preferences and values as well as those of their loved ones before making any final decisions about how they want their lives ended.
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