Death and Dying Sample Paper

Introduction

The concept of death and dying is perceived differently as one moves from one cultural group to another because of the beliefs and values that define their identity. Many people in the world today are afraid of death, especially when they are young. However, the understanding of death changes with age and health wellness, as individuals become more appreciative of the process rather than suffering and exposing their loved ones to emotional turbulence. In this regard, preparing for death might include engaging those close to an individual and advising them on the measures they should take after they are dead. Medical practitioners also play a role in preparing patients for their death by telling them when the procedures may not have an impact on their recovering process. From this realization, the concept of death and dying is evolving, as individuals shift from the traditional beliefs to modernist approaches, which appear to be more pragmatic and useful in their immediate environment. 

Individuals are encouraged to prepare wills through their attorneys to determine the distribution of property after their death. However, euthanasia is a topical issue that attracted debate world over because of the different perceptions held by individuals towards the death preparation tactic. While some individuals believe that God is the only one who can take life, others argue that allowing a patient to suffer, exposing his or her immediate family to emotional pain. The application of the technique is determined by the patient and cannot be initiated by a medical practitioner because of the need to value life. Physician-assisted suicide is only legal in limited countries such as Canada, Switzerland, and some parts in the U.S., among others (Emanuel, Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Urwin, & Cohen, 2016). To avoid possible misuse of the death policy, patients are required to meet a stringent set of rules that identify the impact of their health on other people and themselves. Studying this concept will shape individual perspectives about death and life, with the hope of promoting a certain level of awareness that influences their attitude towards life.

Literature Review

Introduction

Examining existing information regarding the concept of death and the process of dying requires individuals to develop a liberal approach that is informed by the need to understand the significance of the outcome. In many instances, the decision to be exposed to euthanasia is not encouraged and is only allowed in a few countries. Given the meaning of life to individuals in the world today, making this decision to succumb to death through physician-aided suicide is believed to be the outcome of pain. Terminal illnesses expose individuals to a series of challenges, among them pain and financial crises, which are received differently by the immediate family members (Keown, 2018). To alleviate the situation, euthanasia might be a viable option that allows individuals to relieve the patient of the pain and reduce the impact of financial burden by terminating his or her life. For this reason, understanding death is a complicated process that is defined by pain and emotional suffering, which hinders individuals from comprehending the aspect of life.

Preparing for Death

When an individual is aware of his or her death, they undergo a process of transformation that changes their reasonable understanding of life. Many people who were considered antisocial become friendly and willing to interact with others because of their limited time here on earth. So, how does one prepare for death? By planning and making informed decisions that reduce the impact of their death, the affected people enable their immediate family members to overcome problems likely to arise when they are gone (Kastbom, Milberg, & Karlsson, 2019). While the concept of death is painful, especially to close people and friends, planning for one’s funeral offers them a sense of direction that lifts the emotional burden by shifting blame. During this time, people should review their life and mend any broken links between them and other individuals. Religious organizations emphasize on the aspect of reconciliation where the patient can confess his or her sins and apologize to other people who might have suffered because of their decisions. Hence, appreciating the need to die to evade suffering is one of the commonly used approaches by medical facilities when interacting with terminal illness patients. 

Legally, sickly patients are expected to develop a will and a testament that indicates how wealth will be distributed to other people after they are gone. During this process, individuals can engage an attorney who supervises the method according to the laws of the country. A will plays a critical role, which ascertains the approaches that can be taken by individuals to enhance their relationship with other people. In trying to understand the issues affecting individuals in their immediate environment, sickly patients are expected to allocate wealth through a trust that allows individuals to manage existing assets (Adams, 2017). Invoking a power of attorney equips the will and the trust with a certain level of equity, which dictates the nature of interactions and conversations people can have following the death of an individual. Creating a smooth transition following the death of a sickly patient is the primary function of invoking the power of the attorney to oversee the execution of specific processes that appear reasonable and vague in the world today.

Understanding Euthanasia

Despite the world making tremendous steps in the creation of innovative practices and solutions that appeal to humanity, the concept of euthanasia thrives in controversy because of the inability of individuals to agree on its role in saving a life. Importantly, euthanasia is considered as a physician-assisted suicide because of the role played by medical practitioners in relieving a patient from the suffering caused by their terminal medical condition. When examining the impact of medical procedures on the recovery of an individual, there is a need to understand the inability of these processes to relieve the pain of a patient. While euthanasia is only considered legal in a few countries, the rest of the world believes in the process of natural death, leaving God to claim life without interfering with the process. In many instances, individuals who encounter a series of challenges incorporating these views in their interactions with other people experience various setbacks that impede with their attitude towards life.

Physicians are supposed to embrace directives issued by the Ministry of Health in their respective countries. The ministry operates in close relation with the measures adopted by the government to take care of problems affecting its citizens. When analyzing various issues that emerge in the modern world, individuals are expected to recognize the impact of specific directives, which influence people’s perspectives on life. While the attitudes of physicians towards euthanasia may vary, there is a need for individuals to recognize the changing role of healthcare in the world today (Harris, 2018). The government, through its ministry of health, should provide medical practitioners with guidelines that determine their nature of interactions when handling possible cases of euthanasia. Depending on the legality of the practice, the government should have the final say on what happens to the patients who request to be exposed to physician-aided suicide. From this realization, overcoming the challenges affecting life hinders individuals from discovering their potential and other aspects blocking them from realizing their potential.

Professionalism When Working with Families/Sickly Patients

Professionalism in the healthcare industry is determined by the approaches taken by medical practitioners to enhance their relations with individuals in their immediate environment. Doctors encounter different patient cases that affect their perspectives on life. Despite the demanding nature of their job, health practitioners embrace a certain level of professionalism that enhances interactions and expedites the recovery process among patients. However, medical professionals experience specific incidents when families with sickly patients have high expectations about their ability to contain the health situation (Fleming & McDonald, 2017). By exposing individuals to an enabling environment where they can experience the input of medical practitioners, embracing the expected professional standards becomes a challenge because of the impact of the illness on the patient’s body functions. However, abiding by the stipulated medical rules eliminates any possibility of negligence that might occur when interacting with patients in a hospital facility. Handling problems facing patients requires individuals to embrace a strategy to balance the expectations held by both the family members and the sickly patient.

Since euthanasia is only legal in a few countries, including the U.S., there is a need for medical practitioners to familiarize themselves with the concept to avoid engaging in practices that might expose them to professional risks. Professionalism in healthcare is a rationale that promotes patient safety by reminding medical practitioners about their role in the changing times (Skattebol, Adamson, & Woodrow, 2016). Healthcare is a diverse subject that requires individuals to demonstrate effective communication, adhere to confidentiality, and be honest with patients besides utilizing their medical experience and knowledge to accomplish objectives in the hospital facility. In this regard, family members of a sickly patient might be too demanding, an aspect that might interfere with the ability of a professional to address an impending challenge. Despite the approaches used by different healthcare practitioners to resolve a problem, embracing the standards of professionalism creates an enabling environment where people can understand the issues affecting individuals in their immediate environment. 

Interview and Discussion

Interview

In line with the expectations set by this course, I reached out to Malcolm (not his real name) to understand his perspectives towards euthanasia and how he could conduct himself when exposed to specific health conditions. Malcolm, aged 73, is a senior citizen living in one of the aged care homes in the U.S. Malcolm would have wanted to spend this time with his children and their generations but could not because of his condition that requires constant care and observation from medical professionals. I was introduced to Malcolm by one of my classmates, whose grandfather was Malcolm’s best friend at the care facility. He was briefed on my visit by my classmate when visiting his grandfather. Having to meet someone not related to him appeared to excite him because of the confinement standards that limit individuals in the facility from interacting with the rest of the world. Although individuals are supposed to discover various approaches that can be used to improve their lifestyles, Malcolm appeared to be uncomfortable spending the remaining part of his life with strangers. 

I began the interview with a recap of his young self and enquired more about his youthful stage, to create a friendly environment that would encourage Malcolm to be willing to talk. His eyes became shiny, probably due to the memories he had when he was transitioning to the adult phase. He narrated about his escapades and how various historical events shaped his perspectives towards life. Malcolm talked about how he met his wife and their children, which became a symbol of love for him. He showed me a picture of his young family and a more recent one when his children visited him in the care facility. His wife succumbed to a terminal disease, leaving him at the care of his children. He later emphasized the meaning of love and how his children had managed to carry on these values to their young ones. I observed that Malcolm was contented with what he had managed to achieve in his life and the impact he had on their changing perspectives.

Shifting gears to talk about his condition, Malcolm hinted that Parkinson’s disease had taken a toll on him, reducing his mobility and ability to function normally. I asked him about the treatment options available at his disposal, and he emphasized the approaches taken by his children to ensure that he has a smooth transition into his afterlife. Malcolm had prepared his children about his death by developing a will and handing over the trust documents to an attorney to oversee the distribution and management of wealth. Upon asking about euthanasia and his views towards the medical approach, Malcolm indicated that he preferred the technique because of its ability to mitigate pain and balance emotions. I was concerned about his attitude and asked whether he would recommend euthanasia, to which he said that that was his last resolve. By enduring the suffering caused by his condition, he would be exposing his children to an awkward moment where even their productivity at work would be affected. I realized that his desire to embrace euthanasia was informed by the need to eliminate pain and overcome various issues that affect the interactions of individuals with other people in their immediate environment. 

Discussion

Sickly patients tend to focus on the emotional experience of other people and how they are affected by their conditions. In this regard, terminal illnesses present a problematic situation that hinders individuals from making informed decisions in their surroundings. When exposed to the medical environment, sickly patients are informed about their options and the impact of the medical procedures on their body functions. For instance, diseases such as cancer require patients to receive dosages of chemotherapy to weaken the cancer cells. By accepting this medication, cancer patients shed off their hair and become thinner because of the impact of the procedure on their general body appearance (Kamp & Dybbroe, 2016). Many individuals may be unable to handle the transformation emotionally because of their ability to change their perspectives towards life. For instance, models suffering from this disease may have dented self-esteem because of their inability to look back at what they used to be. Such patients might recommend euthanasia because of their beliefs towards death. By devaluing the concept of existence, individuals acquire a chance to describe the measures that should be introduced in the medical world.

Many doctors who oversee euthanasia are emotionally disturbed because of their inability to treat the sickly individuals. Importantly, the roles of medical practitioners range from taking care of weak individuals to recommending approaches that can be used by individuals to overcome the pain caused by their situations. In this regard, doctors and other professionals in the medical environment should be advised about the measures they should take to overcome conditions that hinder them from accomplishing specific objectives. By receiving emotional and psychological help, doctors can become better in administering their medical experience to patients and enabling them to overcome the conditions affecting the nature of their interactions in the therapeutic environment (Jang, Kim, & Kim, 2016). Understanding the perspectives of medical practitioners and exposing individuals to a world where they can become better by overcoming challenges in their surroundings, it becomes easier for individuals to realize their purpose in life. However, not so many doctors are willing to help patients through the process of death with a limited population of the medical practitioners expressing their willingness to prescribe a dosage that guides the patients to conduct euthanasia on themselves. Based on the different medical outcomes recorded in healthcare facilities, individuals should understand the impact of issues that discourage individuals from executing these roles in the corporate world.

Existing literature provides individuals with a detailed examination of the concepts revolving around euthanasia and how sickly people should prepare for death. Besides invoking the powers of an attorney by allowing them to spearhead the execution of the trust and will document, sickly individuals should engage their children on the activities that will happen after their death. Balancing the views of individuals allows families and friends to come to terms with the inevitable event, which promotes the decision-making process. When interacting with different individuals in the medical environment, there is a need to understand the concept of euthanasia and how it affects different individuals during their interaction with those suffering from the terminal illness. On many occasions, individuals fail to realize their role in accomplishing specific objectives, which define the measures that should be taken to overcome issues in the world today. Despite accepting the adverse outcomes associated with the terminal illness, individuals should understand the measures put in place by various professionals to accomplish certain aspects of work that contribute to the success of individuals in their immediate environment.

Conclusion

To avoid possible misuse of the death policy, patients are required to meet a stringent set of rules that identify the impact of their health on other people and themselves. Studying this concept will shape individual perspectives about death and life, with the hope of promoting a certain level of awareness that influences their attitude towards life. The idea of death and dying is perceived differently by individuals because of its impact on the views of sickly patients towards life. By valuing death over life, many people fail to understand the relationship between the two aspects of existence. Many elderly individuals who are exposed to numerous events in the world today have a liberal approach that compels them to mitigate suffering by avoiding incidents that interfere with their interactions with other people. Based on the techniques recommended to conduct euthanasia, medical practitioners should familiarize themselves with the adverse outcomes that hinder individuals from overcoming the conditions affecting sickly people.  

References

Adams, J. Q. (2017). Anticipation: Preparing for Death. Wrestling with the Angel: Literary Writings and Reflections on Death, Dying and Bereavement, 127.

Emanuel, E. J., Onwuteaka-Philipsen, B. D., Urwin, J. W., & Cohen, J. (2016). Attitudes and practices of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jama, 316(1), 79-90.

Fleming, D. A., & McDonald, W. J. (2017). Professionalism charter provides guidance to health care organizations in these troubled times. Annals of internal medicine, 166(9), 665-666.

Harris, J. M. (2018). Euthanasia: grief and bereavement. In BSAVA Manual of Avian Practice (pp. 187-190). BSAVA Library.

Jang, I., Kim, Y., & Kim, K. (2016). Professionalism and professional quality of life for oncology nurses. Journal of clinical nursing, 25(19-20), 2835-2845.

Kamp, A., & Dybbroe, B. (2016). Struggles of professionalism and emotional labour in standardized mental health care. Nordic journal of working life studies, 6, 67-86.

Kastbom, L., Milberg, A., & Karlsson, M. (2017). A good death from the perspective of palliative cancer patients. Supportive care in cancer, 25(3), 933-939.

Keown, J. (2018). Euthanasia, ethics and public policy: an argument against legalisation. Cambridge University Press.

Skattebol, J., Adamson, E., & Woodrow, C. (2016). Revisioning professionalism from the periphery. Early Years, 36(2), 116-131.