Lecture 7 - Ethics

Question 1

WHy is end of life an important topic?

Answer 1

• end of life decisions can be emotioanlly and ethially channeling and can brign conflict between patietns, familys and members and health care profesinals
• patients and families will bring their own goalds and valaues to teh decisions ans so will you as a professional
• if you have a sense of the kinsd of values that underpin you rown views abotu the end of life, adn understand why people reach differnt thoguhs about this, then you will be a better docotrs - shows respect, can maintian trust and haev good communication with patietns, families and otehr care profiders.

Question 2

What are most peoples views on the end of life?

Answer 2

-that life has a special values, and that is is wrong to end life prematurely and avoidably.p

Question 3

What is the principle of sanctity of life?

Answer 3

• is that life has an intrinsic value and that this is a value which commands respect
• this is hwy people see it as a sad event

Question 4

Absolutist view

Answer 4

• that never under any circumstance that life should be shortened, is a mroal requirement. Respecting the value of life requires that actions that shorten life be avoided and people act in ways that preserve and extend life whenever possible in all cases
• abortion, euthanasia and withdrawal of ventilation are morally wrong because they violate this

Question 5

Prima facie view

Answer 5

• that SOL is less demadnign adn that we can still respect the value of life even if we act in ways that may shroten it
• view that decisions to shroten life are taken very seriously, and other avenues are explored before
• allows other values to compete when deciding
• so an action to shorten life may be permisible without violating SOL if other values otucompete this

Question 6

WHy is this hard?

Answer 6

very case specific - and every situations must be discussed before comign to a conclusion

• need to understand your own ethical ideas and decisions about end fo life - dont want to influence the patient
• justify the decisions that their positions when they conflict with those of patients, families or other colleagues
• to find points of agreement when there is conflict at end of life to try and diffuse conflict

Question 7

Respect for autonomy

Answer 7

• an individual should be able to make decisions with respect to their death for themselves
• Humans have higher self conrol and brain functioning than other animals so should have greater repect for choices they make.
• does not automatically ovrride SOL

Question 8

Beneficience and non-maleficence

Answer 8

• if a persons quality of life is so poor, that death would be kindness - then SOL can be argued
• however must be over 18 or paretns make decision

Question 9

Justice

Answer 9

• cost of preserving or extendin life is very high, and could affect other peoples life-saving care
  -may compete with welfare of other poeple,e .g organ donation
  when there is one life being saved at the cost of another
  -hard to make resource related decisions that impact upon the lenght of peoples lives - conrtovery here
  -cannot give every treatment to presever someosns life at a cost
  -

Question 10

Considerations

Answer 10

1. is the person dying (can determine how much gain will be made from trying to preserve life)
2. is the person suffering really badly (welfare and sol)
3. Respect for autonomy - does the perosn want to have their life shortened. - nede to be fully informeed, no pressure
4. Question aboud means - big ethcial debate weater you can actively brign end to life and allwign death to occur - law