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Euthanasia and the Elderly Introduction One of t

One of the recurring issues to face human beings is the problem of a good death. Through the centuries that has been variously defined and redefined to deal with a number of social, psychological, and spiritual issues. In recent times, Elisabeth KublerRoss has set forth the parameters of a good death, noting that people generally pass through several stages, finally reaching a stage of acceptance.

However, not all people are content to allow the process of their dying to play out naturally, or to be prolonged indefinitely by an increasingly sophisticated medical establishment. Some people, because of pain, terminal illness, despair, or other causes wish to gain control of their dying and obtain assistance in that dying through the use of euthanasia.

It is important to start with a clear understanding of the term "euthanasia." The word itself is derived from the Greek. It combines Greek forms that mean well and death. In other words, this is one of the earlier attempts to think about a good death. In Webster's, among the meanings of the word are one that emphasizes euthanasia as an easy and painless death, and another that defines the word as an act or method of causing death painlessly. It is the latter meaning that is the subject of public and legal debate.

It is impossible to tell the prevalence of euthanasia at this time. There are indications that it is more widespread than is expected. For example, in a study of 852 critical care nurses, 19 percent acknowledged engaging in some practice that hastened their patient's death. A total of 129 (16 percent) actively gave the patient a drug that would promote death, usually an opiate. An even larger percentage (a total of 342) indicated that they had thought about practicing euthanasia at some time, but had not done so, primarily because they were afraid of losing their license or were concerned that they might be misinterpreting the patient's request (Asch, 1996).<...

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Euthanasia and the Elderly Introduction One of t. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 04:14, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1683965.html