Abstract Discusses implications for nursing care of Euthanasia. Argues that legalizatioin of end-of-life options makes sense. Debate over issue. Varied definitions of passive euthanasia & assisted suicide. Issue of patient autonomy. Responsibilities of nurses to safeguard patients; their supportive role in health care. Following the orders of physicians. ANA code.
From the Paper "This research examines whether assisted suicide and euthanasia should be legalized and the implications for nursing care. The position taken herein is that legalization makes sense. However, that position should not be confused with an endorsement of assisted suicide and euthanasia. That is, the fact of legalization of end-of-life options for patients and caregivers does not carry with it a mandate for acting them out.
In recent years, the issue of euthanasia has come up before the legislatures of many states. But debate has been problematic for a variety of reasons. To begin with, there are problems connected with discussing euthanasia from a philosophical standpoint alone. That is because philosophy overlaps into law, public policy, medical practice, and medical administration. Another problem is that there is no single definition of..."
Abstract Discusses use of human body parts for transplant operations. Problem of imbalance between supply and demand for human organs. Free market approach. Human organ harvesting. Whether supply will grow as donors or families of cadavers respond to high prices paid for human organs. Four exhibits in addition to paper.
From the Paper "CONSIDERING A MARKET FOR HUMAN ORGANS: A SUPPORTIVE POSITION ASSESSMENT
In the United States, a country that regularly condemns human rights abuses, including trafficking in human organs, in other countries, amoral economists, politically conservative organizations that regularly condemn fetal cell research, and others who view "the market" as God (with a Capital G), promote the concept of a free market in human organs. The usual justification for this concept is that the non-market regulation of the collection and assignment of human body parts for transplant operations is a failure because it allows the development of an imbalance between the supply and the demand for human organs (Schiller 1).
According to the proponents of a free market in human body ..."
Abstract This paper examines how strong arguments can be made for and against animal testing and how both sides are quite persuasive on a number of points. Through a literature review, it looks at how those against animal research make strong points about the excessive, pointlessly inhumane, and sometimes unnecessary use of animals, their terrible suffering and the need to look for alternative methods. It examines how they are less convincing in their claim that animals do not serve as adequate vehicles for useful testing or that the past record of achievements employing animal testing is unimpressive. It shows how those who favor the use of animals in research point to a record of achievement that has benefited humanity and are convincing in arguing that animals continue to be useful. But they cannot successfully defend the treatment of animals in terms of quality of life or the infliction of sometimes unnecessary suffering. It evaluates how the best solution is to develop guidelines that do not forbid the use of animals but insist on humane treatment, curtailing waste, sound justifications, eliminating unnecessary suffering, and commitment to developing alternatives to animal research.
From the Paper "The principal argument of the animal testing advocates is, therefore, that the use of animals in experiments has and does produce strong results that save hundreds of thousands of human lives. But the principal argument of the opposing side cannot be the one put forward by Barnard and Kaufman for, as the other writers show, there is a clear record of accomplishment and the attempt to mount a scientific argument, without "broach[ing] the ethical objections," is easily refuted (Barnard & Kaufman 82)."
Abstract This essay first delivers a general overview of ES cell research. It then looks at ethical dilemmas from both sides with the aid of four ethical theories - Act Utilitarianism, Ethic of Care, Kantian Ethics and Moral Rights Theory. In addition, it addresses the personhood of an embryo. Finally, the conclusion unites the main themes in stating that ES cell research is ethical.
From the Paper "The topic of embryonic stem (ES) cell research emerged in 1998, when James Thompson and his colleagues first derived the cells from pre-implantation human blastocysts [1]. Since then, ES cells have quickly become one of the decade's greatest philosophical dilemmas. Although this research has the potential to cure such illnesses as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, paralysis, and muscular dystrophe (among many other disorders) [3]; researchers? largest boundary is providing a concrete ethical basis for its continued study."
Abstract This paper first provides an overview of two theories relating to nursing. The Levine Theory is a conceptual model, with the focus on every nurse-patient interaction being a unique situation to be resolved in an individualized fashion. On the other hand, the paper shows that the Erickson, Tomlin and Swain Theory (also known as Modeling and Role-Modeling), focuses on the person receiving the nursing care rather than on the nurse, the care or the disease. The paper compares and contrasts the two theories in a clinical situation and finally proposes two research questions relating to the theories.
From the Paper "Nursing is defined as holistic helping of self-care, which includes nurturance and unconditional acceptance. People are viewed as different in their uniqueness and alike in their needs for growth and affiliated-individuation. Nursing is viewed as a facilitator to help the person identify, develop, and use their strengths. For this theory, the word client, one who is involved in their own care, is used rather than the word patient, one who is given treatment. Health is optimal states of physical, mental, and social well-being rather than absence of disease only."
Abstract This paper studies the topic of abortion. The paper begins with some basic statistics on abortions throughout the world and defines an abortion as the termination of pregnancy at any time before birth and which results in, or is accompanied by, the death of the fetus. The paper then offers an explanation of the different methods of aborting a fetus, which include vacuum aspiration, dilatation and curettage. The paper explores the reasons why some women seek to abort their pregnancies and looks at the issue within American society.
Contents:
Introduction
Abortion
Methods of Abortion
Why Women Seek Abortion
Legalization of Abortion in the USA
The Social and Ethical Issues of Abortion
From the Paper "Abortion has been practiced since ancient times as a crude method of birth control. Many religions banned or condemned it, but it was not considered illegal until the 19th century. At that time, especially in 1803 in England, abortion was banned after the fetal movement, or quickening, could be felt by the mother. It was, hence, likewise banned in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as in many states in the United States."
Abstract This paper is a concept analysis of grief behaviors in families, as witnessed in the pediatric critical care setting. The writer explains how grief is a concept surrounded by ambiguity despite nurses' frequent encounters with grieving persons. This paper clarifies this concept and explains how it allows nurses to gain insight into managing grieving families in a therapeutic manner. A concept analysis is described using antecedents, attributes and referents, and principal variables of grief are identified. In addition, model, contrary, borderline, related and illegitimate cases are described. It shows how this analysis can contribute to the establishment of nursing practices with grieving persons.
From the Paper "Grief fills the room up of my absent child, lies in his bed, walks up and down with me"? (Bartlett, 1919). The death of a child, sudden or otherwise, has a profound, life changing effect on the family infrastructure. As nurses, it is important to develop skills of compassion so that we can support these families in their time of need. In order to support a family through the initial stages of grief, one must look at their own belief systems. One must keep an open mind and realize that every family has a different belief system related to death, dying and the grieving process. Our responsibility is not to get families to believe as we believe, rather we must fill the role that the family defines for us during their time of need.
Abstract This paper looks at the various issues relating to euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. It discusses what brings people to want to end their own life in this way and the methods used. The paper touches on the laws which govern the issue of euthanasia and how fear of the law cause some doctors to allow their patients to die in pain.
From the Paper "On the positive side, some patients who are currently unmedicated or severely undermedicated may have their pain relieved, to a degree. The law would allow doctors to prescribe narcotics for the relief pain, even if the drugs have the side effects or shortening a patient's life. Passage of the law would legalize a very common method of pain control. Some physicians currently leave their patients in agony of fear of prosecution. They could theoretically be charged with murder in some states if they shorten their patient's life by even a small amount. If the bill passes and becomes a law, doctors would be able to prescribe some level of medication, and reduce the patient's agony, without endangering the doctor's safety."
Abstract This paper explores primarily the economic affect of the SARS disease on the tourism industry in Southeast Asia. The paper argues that the magnitude of the affect SARS had on the tourism industry is attributable to three factors: the nature of the virus, the reaction by World Health Organization officials and finally, the inadequacy in which local governments (specifically the Chinese) handled the epidemic. Finally, the paper touches on the affects SARS has had on the tourism industry thus far, and its future implications.
From the Paper "Similar to other coronaviruses, SARS was spread primarily by close contact (particularly involving breathing) between individuals (1). Scientists have not eliminated the possibility that the virus can be spread in other ways, such as contact with an infected object or bodily fluids (1). Scientists studying a May outbreak in Hong Kong admit there may be other means of spreading the virus other than close contact."
Abstract Both anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders that affect teenagers. Teenagers with eating disorders usually have other problems such as low self-esteem, family problems or other emotional problems.
Abstract This essay provides a critique of self-care deficit nursing theory. It reveals how the theory directly contributes to nursing knowledge and practice. By focusing in on a specific concept, the theory allows an immediate application of ideas to practice. Specifically, the paper illustrates how self-care deficit theory proposes that individuals have a set of tasks that are crucial to the maintenance of their health. A self-care deficit exists when the relationship between a person's ability to perform required actions is not adequate to meet all of the therapeutic self-care demand. This is where the function of nurses becomes instrumental.
Abstract This paper examines how, considering the increasing use of drugs among today's youth, drug testing in schools has become necessary. It looks at how the ramifications of using these drugs are detrimental to both the individual and society as a whole and how drug testing is meant to protect students from the harmful effects and has been shown to deter drug use in a large percentage of those on whom it has been practiced. It shows how the procedures themselves are non-invasive and result in no side effects and how the United States Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of these evaluations. It also evaluates how the random drug testing of students involved in extra curricular activities is a positive and beneficial policy and should be mandatory in schools.
From the Paper "The argument that testing is an invasion of privacy and infringes on civil rights is easily discredited. The process of a urinalysis test goes as follows: "a faculty monitor waits outside the closed restroom stall for the student to produce a sample and must listen for the normal sounds of urination to guard against tampered specimens and ensure an accurate chain of custody" (Kozlowski 34). This is considered to be a negligible intrusion of privacy. These tests are compared to standard head lice checks. Katherine Ford, the director of the Florida Drug Free America Foundation says, ?No one claims it is a violation of a child's civil rights to have their head checked for lice."
Abstract This paper addresses the concern most often vocalized about euthanasia, namely, whether it is a form of murder or mercy. The author of the paper puts forth arguments that euthanasia should be legalized and applies the ethical theories of consequentialism and non-consequentialism to help assess and evaluate whether or not euthanasia should be legalized and, ultimately, to support the author's point of view. The paper also provides suggestions for legal protections and policies that should be put in place if euthanasia is legalized.
From the Paper "Most of the issues in the legalization of Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS), or better known as Euthanasia, rest under contentious questions of ethics and morality. The process of euthanasia, in which death of a terminally ill patient is hastened by some means to end sufferings from a terminal disease, presents a question between two situations wherein concerns of ethics and morality are debated as to where it properly lies ? When is it morally correct, to hasten the death of a dying patient from a terminal disease to end his sufferings, or to let him suffer from pain and let the course of his disease's nature take place? This question has been one of the moral issues concerning the legalization of euthanasia. In simple and legal terms, it is associated to the debatable question "Is euthanasia a form of murder"?"
Abstract This paper discusses how pain is a global problem that affects all people during their life and how poorly treated pain is a major concern for the millions of Americans currently suffering with pain. It looks at how heath care strives to deliver optimal care and treat patients effectively and how the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has developed pain management quality standards that must be implemented by all health care organizations to be accredited. It shows how providers need help to integrate these standards for optimal pain management and how conceptual models developed by nursing theorists can be useful tools to guide clinical practice. In particular, it explores Orem's Self-Care Framework, Neuman's System Model, and Roy's Adaptation Model as examples of conceptual models that can be used to analyze possible approaches to solving health care problems and clinical concerns.
From the Paper "Roy's Model guides pain management with a nursing process, which includes a behavioral assessment, a stimuli assessment, nursing diagnosis, goal setting, plans for implementation, and evaluation. Each step takes into consideration the patient's perceptions and desires into account. Behavioral assessment is completed keeping in mind the four modes of adaptation. The four modes of adaptation are physiological, self-concept, role function, and interdependence. This allows for a systematic and holistic approach in recognizing the patients? right to proper pain assessment. In the physiological mode, a thorough assessment investigates the underlying disease process of the pain. Once treatment is implemented for the illness or injury causing pain, the focus moves into the actual elimination of pain."
Tags: self, care, framework, system, model, adaptation
A look at the background and structure of managed care in an effort to reveal the underlying ethical issues and come up with a solution to the problem.
Abstract This paper examines how health care is a unique category of business in that every decision, whether it be clinical or economic, has an ethical component. It looks at how the ethical issues for "managed care" create four major categories of concern: professional, medical, business, and social. It also discusses how some of the most important areas for attention include the lack of professional code of ethics for physician executives, interference with the principles of informed consent and patient autonomy, violation of consumer rights, and social maleficence in obstruction to access and delivery.
Outline
Introduction
The Basics of Managed Health Care
Prioritizing Ethical Issues
Conclusion and Recommendations
From the Paper "Medical directors and administrators in managed health care organizations today face those kinds of decisions every day (Woodstock Theological Center, 1999). For doctor like Stanley to be able to make good ethical decisions, they must understand the ethical issue involved in managed health care. Many doctors initially feel that the problems lie with the managed health care organizations, as they have seen first-hand many of the "unethical" decisions that managed care organizations make. However, recently, it has become apparent that people who are assumed to have the same perspective, such as the doctors, do not always agree on what would be the right decision. Second, doctors have begun to understand the perspectives of those with whom they disagreed."
