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PCE: End of Life Issues
Bridget Propst
School of Nursing, Liberty University
PHIL 380: Biomedical Ethics
Dr. Foreman
November 14, 2021
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Definition and Determination of Death
According to our course, death is the cessation of the essential characteristics and
capacities that are necessary and sufficient conditions for a person to be alive. I believe this
definition and description of death are accurate and properly inform what happens. As a person
who studies how the body function, what can go wrong, how to fix it, and what it will lead to;
death is something that is brought up frequently. The reason for death is that certain parts or
capacities in our body are no longer working properly and the way they should so the human
body can no longer run which means they are no longer alive. Determining death at times is
almost quick and easy, but in other cases, it becomes a very complicated and long process. But
overall, I believe when it comes to the determination of death we need to focus on if it is ICC
which the determining factor for death is that focuses on two main things the heart and lungs. We
simply as human beings cannot live a sufficient life without any machinery if our heart and/or
lungs stop. If a medical professional cannot bring one back and they be able to get off medical
technology devices such as a ventilator I believe with proper steps and evaluations I believe this
is the most sufficient and best way of determining death.
Active and Passive Euthanasia
Active euthanasia is the intentional and direct killing of another human life either out of
motives of mercy, beneficence, or respect for personal autonomy; mercy killing. While passive
euthanasia is the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment when certain justifiable
conditions obtain, and the patient is allowed to die. I believe there is a distinction between active
and passive euthanasia. The important distinction between the two is the withholding or
withdrawing treatment and the ordinary/extraordinary means of the distinction. I believe that
passive euthanasia is simply upon a patient’s wishes either through a will or the patient verbally
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and confirming that they want to withhold or withdraw treatment. But active euthanasia does not
leave it up to the patient's will, it is a literal direct killing of another human life with motives that
should not be excusable.
Specific Procedures and Practices
Handling artificially induced food and water the same way with medical treatments is a
tough subject. If we first look at passive euthanasia if that is the patient’s choice to reject the
food and water, then that is simply their choice. But I do believe that if it is not by the patient's
will and choice to reject those things, we simply need to continue to administer food and water to
them because even though it is not a medical procedure it does have a purpose for sustaining
their life. Other than food and water, I do believe that medical procedure and treatment can be
held if it is via patient request, family request, or if it is simply not needed.
Value and Need for Advanced Directives
Advance directives are a set of instructions from a competent, autonomous, informed
person regarding decisions about future medical treatment if the person becomes incapable of
deciding at a future time. When it possibly comes to a time where you cannot make any medical
decisions for yourself it is very important for a living will and/or durable power of attorney. This
is because you can express all you want and needs through documentation or from another
person so that medical professionals simply do not have to guess or rely on family to make
further decisions with patients. If neither of these exists with a patient it is difficult for medical
providers to receive consent and know wishes and welfare if you cannot make the decisions.
Unfortunately, today very few people complete a living will, and sometimes treatment
preferences are not clearly stated or comprehended. This can also lead the living will not get
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transmitted to those who are making the decisions and causes a whole new issue in decision
making.
The Morality of Suicide and Assisted Suicide
I believe that suicide does not bring any good to anything and possibly worsen a
situation. As a Christian, I believe that this is something we should conclude that violates the
fundamental principle of the sanctity of human life. Though I do not agree with suicide,
physician-assisted suicide takes another approach to it. Though I am not agreeing with the idea
of suicide, I do advocate for patient choices and decisions in their treatment. If a patient is
possibly close to death and in extreme pain, with the right steps, considerations, and evaluation I
believe that if a physician agrees the patient has a right to request this. But as I mention we need
appropriate steps to take throughout this process to fulfill a patient request. This goes along with
the autonomy argument that people have an autonomous right to choose to end their life if they
are suffering, I also believe the mercy argument can go right along with the autonomy argument.
Overall, I absolutely that physicians and psychiatrists should all play important role in this
decision. This goes with the evaluation part, that if a patient advocates that this is the process,
they want to go through it is not a quick decision right away, it is going to take some time.
Imperiled Newborns and Infanticide
Infanticide or imperiled newborns is the act of either permitting a newborn to die or
intentionally ending the life of a newborn normally for reasons of mercy and/or beneficence. I
believe that this could not be justifiable. Just because a newborn may have a defective issue does
not mean it is dying. Therefore, I believe that what we can do for the newborn should be
performed due to the newborn not being able to advocate for itself, so we assume that it wants
the quality of life. Though it can an inconvenience to others, I believe that is not enough
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reasoning to make this justifiable. There are going to be options and actions that can be taken so
that the newborn can get to a point where they can make their decisions.
