The downside of technology is that it can create ethical and moral
dilemmas in the healthcare organization. Currently, life support
technology is one of the technological changes raising some issues in
the industry. Techniques and methods used to replace the function
of critical organs artificially are referred to as life support. The goal is
to gain time for patients so that the underlying cause may be
addressed or they can heal on their own. Some examples are
mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, artificial
nutrition and hydration, and dialysis.
The advantage of life support technology is that it gives more time
for providers to find a solution to help their patients. It can give the
patients and their families some hope to recover. People who oppose
life support describe cases in which it is evident that there are no
hopes of recovery and that life support delays death. While
advocates of life support believe that it is immoral to let someone
die, opponents contend that it is immoral to keep someone alive
without their permission, thereby prolonging their suffering. It is
wrong to let someone lose their life if they had one last chance to try
to get it. If the patient signed for DNR, it could be a different story.
However, if the doctors can give one last chance to the patients the
chance to live, they should accept the power of technology.
source:
Life support: Information and ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2022,
from https://www.acls.net/information-and-ethics
