End of Life Care Presentation according to the file I upload to make a 16 slides presentation(could be less than 16 or more than 16), the slides must relat

End of Life Care Presentation according to the file I upload to make a 16 slides presentation(could be less than 16 or more than 16), the slides must related to the files I upload, like a summary of files. The slides should include a short video(around 4 minutes)which related to topics.At the end of presentation, you should provide three thoughtful questions which can be discussed according to the topic. SURNAME 1
End-of-Life Care
The bioethics issue which I have decided to focus on is end-of-life care. The topic
of assisted dying is a deeply contentious issue and has raised unending debate. Doctors, patients,
relatives to the patients, and human rights activists have contradicting opinions about the end of
life care. Even though healthcare practitioners are trained to enhance and maintain life, there are
times when it becomes difficult to do so, especially if a patient is experiencing a rapid decline in
health. Patients who suffer from terminal illnesses such as late-stage cancer and amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis have limited chances of surviving. Therefore, a health practitioner may inform
the patient of his family of the impending death. Advancement of healthcare may prolong life;
however, the quality of life can decline when the patient becomes too ill (Connolly, Galvin &
Hardiman 474). Therefore, open discussion with the patients and their families is necessary as it
gives them time to reflect and plan, therefore obviates the adoption of unnecessary procedures
that give them hope. Some people argue that the end of life care is unnecessary because it leads
wastage of resources and makes the patients have a painful ending if their health condition
worsens. On the other hand, others argue that life is precious, and any method which can be used
to prolong it even for a second should not be given a second thought. My opinion regarding this
topic is that patients with a terminal illness should be given proper end-of-life care so that they
can have a good death.
End of life care is a very crucial process in the life of a terminally ill patient as it ensures
a high degree of quality care to the patient. It is important to note that the outcomes for patients
with less than six months lifespan who receives end-of-life care are different from dying patients
placed under usual care (Chan, Webster & Bowers 7). End-of-life care is very important in
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helping dying patients live as hopeful as possible during the short lifespan that might be
remaining. This implies that raising the standards at which the dying patients are cared for is
quite inevitable. Initiatives that ensure that the patient is emotionally, physically, and spiritually
comfortable must be undertaken during the process (Razmaria 117). Several programs like
hospice program have been introduced to ensure that a patient suffering from a terminal disease
is as comfortable as possible during the estimated period. It is a comprehensive care unit in
which the patient can find relief from pain and any suffering associated with the terminal illness
(Chan, Webster & Bowers 3). The hospice program consists of a team from the various
disciplinary, i.e. physician, nurse coordinator and a primary nurse, hospice medical doctor,
chaplain, social workers, volunteers and many other professionals that may be needed in the
process.
Taking care of the patient puts more emphasis on the quality of life and not the quantity
of life (Chan, Webster & Bowers 3). The aim of end of life care is not to hasten death or to
postpone it but to provide a quality living during the period of a terminal illness. As a result of
the intense suffering that might be associated with the terminal illness during the last era of life,
the patient and the family may live in constant trouble. Therefore, it is important that the patient
should be as comfortable as possible and die at peace. That is why the hospice program does not
just concentrate on body pain elimination, but it also gives considerable emphasis to the
emotional and spiritual state of the individual (Chan, Webster & Bowers 3). This is very
important because regardless of how long or short the period may be; the last times are spent at
peace and without regrets or serious troubles in the mind, spirit, and body.
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End-of-life-care does not only benefit the patient but also the entire family. In this case, a
family member can be any individual that the sick person shares a significant relationship with. It
is very important to prepare the family members emotionally and spiritually for the impending
death (Lee 100). It is not news to find out that many people have died before their terminally-ill
relatives as a result of emotional trauma or even immediately after their death. Therefore, end-oflife care is not meant to torture the relatives but to care for them and help them cope up with the
situation.
In most cases, hospice care is done at home to allow the patient and the relatives mingle
and interact so that great peace is achieved and much emotional trouble and tension are reduced
at death. A support system is offered by the end-of-life care that allows room for the relatives to
live actively with the patient during their last times (Razmaria 117). The psychologists,
physicians, nurses and doctors that look after the patients constantly communicate with the
relatives on the patients’ condition having been trained in a way that helps them to comfort the
relatives until the last minute.
Moreover, it supports sanctity, inviolability of life, and it considers death as a normal
process that everyone has to pass through. Life is very sacred, regardless of how sure one might
be of another’s death. It should, therefore, be preserved until the very last minute when it gets out
of hands. Everything must be done within reach to sustain the patient in his condition (Razmaria
115). Research has it that patients who have been put under end-of-life care are most likely to
live longer than the ones that are not. This is because several factors lead to the early death of the
dying patient. Pain, mental suffering, and emotional trauma can lead to an earlier death. For
instance, some patients may be so worried about their condition hence becomes too afraid that
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they are about to die (Razmaria 115). This may cause unique reactions of the patient from time to
time that may cause trouble even among relatives. Thus, to embrace the sanctity of life, all these
aspects must be considered during end-of-life care.
Assisted dying is the process of giving or providing the necessary procedure or resources
that can be used to kill or assist the patient in committing suicide. Therefore, assisted dying gives
the patient suffering from a terminal disease a choice to terminate their lives if they decide that
their suffering is unbearable Dyer & Aser, 2). Assisted dying is further divided into euthanasia
and assisted suicide. The main intention of assisted dying is to relieve the patient from persistent
pains of a disease that will eventually lead to death. Several countries, such as the U.S, Canada,
Switzerland, and many others have enacted assisted dying bills that articulate when and how a
person should be assisted to die (Dyer & Aser, 2). It hastens the death of terminally-ill patients.
Euthanasia is where the medical practitioner is allowed by the consent of the patient and the
family to end his/her life painlessly. On the other hand, assisted suicide is where the medical
practitioner assists the patient to commit suicide at his request (de Beaufort, Inez & Suzanne
1464). In my opinion, assisted dying should be prohibited and is not necessary at all due to
several reasons.
Assisted dying is a controversial topic worldwide in the current era. There are many
problems and disadvantages related to assisted-dying (Lee 100). It has been realized that most of
the patients that request for assisted deaths are usually overwhelmed with excessive pains and are
most likely to change their minds in case the pain is relieved. With the advancements in
technology, there are several ways in which excessive pains can be reduced. Some patients may
be very desperate at times when pain is high and are most likely to make hasty decisions
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regarding their wish to die (de Beaufort, Inez & Suzanne 1465). Research has it that most
patients repudiate their wish to die when the pain is relieved. This makes it difficult to judge if
the patient is honest about the decision to die or is wavering between two opinions.
I do not support assisted dying because a patent may make such decision due to pressure
or advice by close relatives who are worried over accumulating hospital bills, yet the patient will
finally die. In some cases, the patient suffering from terminal illness decides his/her death based
on what they believe others want them to do, e.g., relatives’ desires for him/her. Assisted dying
is a decision that should be made by the patient only without the influence of anyone else (de
Beaufort, Inez & Suzanne 1464). If the relatives are able to influence the patient to make such a
decision, then it is a form of murder which is prohibited under the law. The fact that assisted
murder should be done with the consent of the relatives does not imply that they should influence
the decision of the patient.
Nevertheless, requesting for assisted dying may sometimes be very fake and not genuine,
but just a means of expressing other feelings and emotions (de Beaufort, Inez & Suzanne 1466).
It may be difficult to know all the feelings and factors that affect the patient’s mental state. Some
of the patients may misrepresent these bombardments of thoughts and feelings with the need to
die. This is very risky if assisted dying will be offered to all patients that places a request.
According to Lee (100), lack of proper end-of-life care may lead to excessive pains,
psychological, emotional, and spiritual torture, thus increasing the chances of the patient to ask
for assisted dying. This too is not genuine because if the palliative services are advanced, then
the patient is not likely to desire early death. Therefore, the availability of optimal life care
services for these patients is likely to change their attitude. Therefore, healthcare professionals
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should work day and night to ensure that palliative services are expanded, postgraduate medical
training is improved that leads to quality care. This will curb the need for physician-assisted
suicide and euthanasia.
Assisted dying does not respect the sanctity of life, which considers life as sacred
and should be preserved — assisted dying cuts of the patients’ life that could otherwise be lived
for a while (Razmaria 115). Who knows, with the current technology, a terminal disease can
recover. Furthermore, new technologies for treating diseases are invented daily, what if it is
discovered a day after the patient’s death? Different people also have different chances in life. A
terminal disease can kill one, yet another ends up taking longer or even recover from it (Lee
101). Life is very important, and it must be preserved to the last moment. According to my view,
a patient should be allowed to battle until the last minute, and all efforts should be attempted to
save his/her life. No conclusion should be made before death regarding the patient’s condition
but always believing that things may turn out to work for good.
End of life care allows medical practitioners to monitor at the patients and come with
innovative ways to manage their conditions and prolong their lives. There are many technologies
which have emerged as a result of end-of-life care, which otherwise could not have been
invented if assisted dying was a daily occurrence among terminally-ill patients. Some
advancements that control pain, breathlessness, nausea, and several terminal symptoms could
have been nowhere in history (Lee 101). Some diseases that were considered terminal several
years ago can now be cured because of the newly invented treatments. Practicing assisted dying
might delay the discovery of the effective treatments for diseases that are currently terminal
(Razmaria 115).
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Moreover, patients that access these services pay a lot of money to the hospital,
government, and specialists. However, this money cannot be collected if assisted dying is
legalized since patients will always opt for this option whenever pain increases. The money that
is collected can be used to increase the health care services for other patients who suffer a
terminal illness.
In conclusion, in this paper, I have discussed why I support the end of life care and
against the assisted dying and assisted suicide. Even though the issues of end of life careassisted dying is a controversial one, my stand is that end-of-life care is preferable to assisted
dying. This is because it ensures high-quality care to the dying patient, focuses on quality of life,
prepares the family, and upholds the sanctity of life. Even though a patient may be having a
lifespan of fewer than six months, they still need to be put under medical care to reduce pain and
suffering. Life is so precious, and one should be given a chance to live until the last second. In
addition, human beings need to die with dignity, and this is only possible when they are placed
under the end of life care. I view assisted dying as inhumane and do not meet the ethical
standards of medical practice. Healthcare professionals are trained to save and improve the
quality of life; therefore, I do not advocate for assisted dying. It can be subjected to misuse either
by the patients, doctor, and the family of the terminally ill patients. Assisted dying is quite
disadvantageous since it does not uphold the sanctity of life and slows the discovery of new
treatment methods. If not well handled, it may intensely affect the family emotionally. Therefore,
it is better to take care of the patient suffering from the terminal disease until the last minute of
their death.
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Works cited
Chan, Raymond J., Joan Webster, and Alison Bowers. “End?of?life care pathways for improving
outcomes in caring for the dying.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2 (2016).
Connolly, Sheelah, Miriam Galvin, and Orla Hardiman. “End-of-life management in patients
with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.” The Lancet Neurology 14.4 (2015): 435-442.
De Beaufort, Inez D., and Suzanne van de Vathorst. “Dementia and assisted suicide and
euthanasia.” Journal of Neurology 263.7 (2016): 1463-1467.
Dyer, Owen, Caroline White, and AserGarcíaRada. “Assisted dying: law and practice around the
world.” BMJ 351 (2015): h4481.
Diehl-Schmid, J., et al. “Suicide and assisted dying in dementia: what we know and what we
need to know. A narrative literature review.” International Psychogeriatrics 29.8 (2017):
1247-1259.
Lee, David H. “Approach to end of life care.” The Ochsner journal vol. 4,2 (2015): 98-103.
Razmaria, Aria A. “End-of-life care.” Jama 316.1 (2016): 115-115.

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