End-Of-Life Decisions for Elderly and Ill Patients
Healthcare professionals face legal and ethical situations when dealing with terminally ill and elderly patients. Many patients go through a lot of suffering and depression which leads them to end-of-life decisions. There will always be circumstances where beliefs and perspectives are different. When patients are involved it is important that their preference regarding medical treatments are taken into consideration. Terminally ill and elderly patients have a right to make their own medical decision to have a Physician-Assisted Suicide or Euthanasia.
Not everyone will agree with these choices and some can even argue that it is not morale. Stated in an article, "There are a number of reasons, however, to be very cautious about accepting that suicide may be a rational decision among the terminally ill" (Kleespies, Hughes, Gallacher, 2000). Medical illnesses that are terminal can cause a great deal of suffering and depression. Even though healthcare professionals try and avoid end-of-life decisions for their patients, it is still their right to make their own medical decision if they choose to put an end to their suffering. Healthcare professionals face legal and ethical inferences when dealing with terminally ill and elderly patients who make end-of-life decisions.
Medical Illnesses and End-Of-Life Decisions
When it comes to end-of-life situations, healthcare professionals need to make sure that the patients best interest is evaluated. The article Suicide in the Medically and Terminally Ill: Psychological and Ethical Considerations discusses the medical illnesses that cause end-of-life situations. Patients with medical illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, amputations, Parkinson's disease, renal disease, spinal cord injuries and HIV/AIDS, might go through a lot of suffering and depression due to their medical condition. As stated in the article "Moreover, when a medical illness becomes terminal, the behavioral-medicine clinician may find his or her patient thrust into difficult end-of-life considerations that may include suicide" (Kleespies, Hughes, & Gallacher, 2000). Serious medical illnesses and diseases can cause a lot of suffering, pain and depression. In some situations, for terminally ill patients or even elderly patients, they might feel like a burden to their family either financially or emotionally. This is another reason why they choose to end their life.
Many people question whether choosing end-of-life is a rational decision and as stated in the article, "The principle of mercy asserts that where possible, one ought to relieve the pain or suffering of another person, when it does not contravene that person's wishes, where one can do so without undue costs to oneself, where one will not violate other moral obligations, where the pain or suffering itself is not necessary for the sufferer's attainment of some overriding good, and where the pain and suffering can be relieved without precluding the sufferer's attainment of some overriding good" (Kleespies, Hughes & Gallacher, 2000). This principle allows physicians to prescribe patients a mediation that is lethal to end their suffering when dealing with a critical medical condition.
When patients choose to go through with an end-of-life situation, there are two choices that patients choose from, Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia. As stated in the book, "Physician-Assisted Suicide is an action which a physician voluntarily aids a patient in bringing about his or her death" (Pozgar, 2016). This option allows the healthcare professional to provide the patient with the lethal medication for them to administer on their own time. Euthanasia is defined in the book as "the act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from incurable conditions or diseases" (Pozgar, 2016). With euthanasia, the physician is involved and consists of a lethal medication that gets injected into the patient but does not cause any pain or suffering.
Elderly Patients and Chronic Illnesses
When dealing with elderly patients and a chronic illness, it is important that healthcare professionals explain to the patients what their situation is and provide them with enough information so they understand their medical condition. The article Understanding variability of end-of-life care in the ICU for the Elderly, states that "Decisions about the use of life-sustaining treatments ought to be guided by a plan of care developed with patients who are knowledgeable and informed about their prognosis, treatment options, and likely outcomes". (Curtis, Engelberg & Teno, 2017). Medical decisions should be based on the patient's best interest and the proper care that is needed. For elderly patients that are suffering and have a chronic illness it is important that their opinions are taken seriously, and their own choice in making an end-of-life decision is carefully examined.
With elderly patients who are admitted without any family members claiming them, it is up to the patient themselves and the healthcare professional to decide what the next medical step will be. The article indicates that "In the USA, the striking increase and substantial variability in the ICU use among elderly patients with chronic illness, even those with severe functional impairment prior to crucial illness, raises concerns about how ICU treatment decisions are made. (Curtis, Engelberg & Teno, 2017). Healthcare professionals have to decide what is best for the patient while understanding the cultural differences. When patients are not able to make their own decision, then the healthcare professional will have to make the best rational decision for the patient.
Understanding the patient's situation and the pain they are suffering can help provide a supportive idea of end-of-life decisions. As stated in the article, "We need to develop and evaluate clinical, educational, and policy interventions that help ensure that patients and their families receive high quality care that is consistent with their informed goals of care", (Curtis, Engelberg & Teno, 2017). Healthcare professionals need to consider all treatment options, side effects, and the outcomes of the patient's condition which can help provide the patient with the right medical care that is the best for them.
Conclusion
There are many legal and ethical situations that healthcare professionals face when dealing with terminally ill and elderly patients. There is a lot of suffering and depression that patients go through, leading them to making end-of-life decisions. Terminally ill and elderly patients have a right to make their own medical decision to have a Physician-Assisted Suicide or Euthanasia, which can cause legal and ethical inferences. Stated in the article, "There are a number or reasons, however, to be very cautious about accepting that suicide may be a rational decision among the terminally ill" (Kleespies, Hughes & Gallacher, 2000). It is the patients right to make their own medical decision.
Healthcare professionals need to make sure that the patients best interest is evaluated when it comes to end-of-life situations. The article Suicide in the Medically and Terminally Ill: Psychological and Ethical Considerations discussed the medical illnesses that cause end-of-life situations. Patients with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, amputations, Parkinson's disease, renal disease, spinal cord injuries and HIV/AIDS, might go through a lot of suffering and depression due to being terminally ill, and sometimes it can cause them to feel like a burden to their family. (Kleespies, Hughes, & Gallacher, 2000).
The principle of mercy allows physicians to prescribe patients a mediation that is lethal to end their suffering in terminal illnesses. Physician-Assisted Suicide allows the healthcare professional to provide the patient with the lethal medication for them to use at their own time, once they are ready. Euthanasia is when the healthcare professional injects a lethal medication to the patient. (Pozgar, 2016). Medical decisions should be based on the patient's best interest and the proper care that is needed. When elderly patients are involved with no family to claim them, then it is up to the patient and the healthcare professional to make the decision for their condition. Understanding the patient's situation and the pain they are suffering can help provide a supportive idea of end-of-life decisions