Right to Die for Terminal Illness Essay Example for Free

Right to Die for Terminal Illness Essay Historically, the Greeks and Romans were tolerant of assisted suicide. If no relief could be provided to ease the suffering of a dying person, it was acceptable for that person to request help to end their suffering (Voluntary, 1). If you look throughout the world today, there are only three countries whose governments have initiated policies legalizing the right for their terminally ill citizens to request voluntary euthanasia, those countries being Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands (Euthanasia, 1). In the United States, there are only three states that have successfully passed similar legislation giving a person this right. Oregon in 1997 and Washington and Montana in 2009 passed into law an assisted suicide law for the terminally ill (Frequently†¦). As supreme ruler for the month, I would adopt Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act on a federal level and take it a step further by legalizing euthanasia under extreme circumstance for the terminally ill. We live in a country where abortion, whether you like it or not, is legal. If we as a society allow pregnancies to be aborted, then why wouldn’t it be acceptable to legalize a person’s choice to request assisted suicide from a terminally ill disease? Just for clarification, I do not believe in or condone suicide. It is in the extreme circumstances of a terminally ill disease where all other resources have been exhausted that I find this as a vial alternative. I am not an advocate for abortion either. The unborn are not given a choice but it is legally practiced for the time being. With assisted suicide for the terminally ill, they at least can be given the choice to end their personal suffering on their own terms. I therefore, under these circumstances, find assisted suicide (euthanasia) more humane and legally acceptable due to the precedence set by abortion. The program that I would pass into law would be very similar to the Death with Dignity Act currently used by the State of Oregon. In this Act, a competent patient, 18 and older, diagnosed with a terminally ill disease with less than six months to live with no life-saving alternative available may request their physician to provide them with a lethal dosage of narcotics for self-administration (Frequently†¦). The patient will be evaluated by a second physician and a psychological exam is performed if necessary to legitimize the request (Frequently†¦). If the person is found to be of sound mind and it is determined all medical avenues ave been exhausted, the patient will be granted access to the life ending medication. The patient at any time retains to the right to withdraw the request (Frequently†¦). If the patient’s physician finds this morally objective, they retain the right to remove themselves from the case but cannot inhibit the request if all criteria have been met (Voluntary, 3). In this case, a new physician will be assigned to the case to oversee the life ending treatment. As a second part of this Act, a Medical Power of Attorney (MPA) euthanasia clause will be exercised to expedite the death process at the request of the patient. In the advanced stages of death, one who has accepted their fate but is no longer competent, if granted through the MPA by the patient and absence of personal gain by the MPA, this clause will be included in the Act to administer life ending medication or euthanize the patient by the physician at the request of the MPA. In lieu of further hospice treatment or as part of, such as morphine, the MPA may exercise their right to request life-ending drugs be administered to the patient. I see this as an extension of the DNR. In cases where a patient has been removed from any medical treatment and death is imminent, hours or days, per multiple physicians prognosis, and the patient is more or less unresponsive, the MPA may exercise the euthanasia clause in lieu of further pain treatment or medical induced coma. Again, in the case where the physician finds this act immoral, they have no obligation to comply but if all the criteria have been met at the patients documented request, the physician will be required to remove themselves from the case and an alternate physician be assigned to see out the request. A patient’s request for assisted suicide or MPA euthanasia must be documented and recorded through the hospital system and with the local authorities (Frequently†¦). This request can be included in the patient’s living will, DNR request, or on a separate legal document. The documentation process of the requestor must be witnessed by two or more persons with only one witness being of blood relation (Frequently†¦). A full psychological evaluation of the patient may be performed by the hospital or legal authority to ensure the requestor is of sound mind when the documents are executed (Frequently†¦). The legal authorities must also be notified when a requestor will be exercising their right to assisted suicide before any life ending medication can be administered or released to the patient. According to ELDR Magazine, a study released in May 2008 reports these â€Å"death with dignity† laws are gaining national momentum (Elder, 1). This study goes on to explain many of the respondents would choose to be placed in medical coma even if it were to quicken the death process and even more would choose to be taken off life support measure if they were in a vegetative state (Elder,1). It also states that over 80% of respondents felt the right to die is a personal decision and not one to be controlled by the government or religion (Elder, 1). This being the case, by implementing a federal Die with Dignity Act, it would grant people the freedom to die in a manner that reflects their personal choice, and the physicians who administer these requests would not be subject to legal ramifications. On a personal note, in the last two years, I have lost my father to cancer and my grandfather to a fatal stroke, both of whom I was very close with. I was the main caretaker for my father over his last six months and watched over him through a lot of painful times, especially towards the end. I often wonder if there were laws that allowed the freedom of choice towards expediting the death process, would my father have exercised this right? It’s hard to lose a loved one but it’s also hard to watch them experience such great suffering. You emotionally suffer right along with them. When my time comes, will I want my children to feel helpless? To suffer along with me to the last breath? Or will I be able to grant them the power to ease my suffering and theirs?

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskel Essay -- Papers

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskel Elizabeth Gaskell's Nineteenth Century novel, Mary Barton, is an example of social realism in its depiction of the inhumanities suffered by the impoverished weavers of Manchester, England. The main story in Mary Barton is that of the honest, proud and intelligent workingman so embittered by circumstances and lack of sympathy that he finally murders a mill owner's son as an act of representative vengeance. In growing embittered, he becomes as a natural consequence, more isolated in his community; both humanity and faith lose their power to guide him. Mary Barton, his daughter, really loves Jem Wilson, who is arrested after having threatened the murdered man for trying to seduce Mary, and it is her efforts that produce the melodramatic last minute evidence that saves him. Against the novelistic background of this murder and the central love stories, Mrs. Gaskell outlines her main themes of life in Manchester during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution and of the conditions that initiated the Chartist Movement. Thus, the historical background of Mary Barton is as much, if not more important than its strictly novelistic aspects. Manchester becomes a symbol of the outrageous conditions endured by the laborers, instead of a real city in itself. It is always grimy, oppressive, and ugly, just like the lives of its inhabitants. The only detail the author gives us is with the individual homes, not with the city itself. It is almost as if she were afraid of impairing the city's inherent symbolism by describing any actual streets or shops. Even when wealth is shown, as with the Carsons, the setting is still ugly and drab; the only difference is that the drabness has been made comfor... ... led up to the Chartist Movement. Despite the author's concentration on the social aspects of the situation, she has nonetheless succeeded in providing us with the main points of the new economy and its laws. Mary Barton tells the story from the laborer's point of view, but we are not without knowledge of the mill owner's side of it either, especially through the philosophical wisdom of Job Legh. In her attempts to present the plight of the laborer in Manchester, Elizabeth Gaskell has not neglected to make us understand the importance and significance of the industrial movement, as well as the great possibilities it possessed. It is, perhaps, a dated novel. However, it is important in its delineation of the social, political, and economic forces that were at work in England from 1835 -- 1850, and it is an attempt to bring them all into harmonious focus.

Principles of Farm Animal Husbandry – Intensive and Extensive Farming

The terms intensive and extensive within farm animal husbandry refer to the methods animals are raised and processed. Intensive farming – Generally referred to as industrial and factory farming, this method is used to aid mass production of meats and dairy. Farm animals are kept in specially built units all year round in order to better control feeding and management. Examples of these can be found in battery cages to house chickens to aid egg collection, and farrowing crates to restrict sows within breeding units. Animals can be fed, watered and cleaned by automatic systems such as feed hoppers and drinkers. Extensive farming – Can also be linked with free-range, animals are able to freely move around and graze outdoors. This method is usually utilised in regions with a lesser demand, such as more open rural areas. There are some cases where animals can be part intensive and extensively farmed. For example, a sheep may spend the majority of it's time outdoors, but will be brought indoors and intensively farmed during lambing season. One of the negative impacts created by intensive farming is the increase in manure. Before intensive farming was introduced, farmers would ordinarily spread livestock manure onto fields for the crops benefit. However, some farmers have begun specialising in areas, crop growing or livestock, which means intensive livestock farmers have to store slurry, which can emit methane, and then travel to areas where this can be disposed of. However, this can be argued as a benefit to farmers who still produce crops as well as manage livestock as the slurry is readily available in great quantity to aid growth of their crops. Another problem appears to be the welfare of the farm animals. Instead of being able to display natural behaviours such as grazing, social and maternal instincts outdoors as with extensive farming, these animals are kept in confined spaces, which can cause signs of discomfort, lameness and even aggression. That being said, intensive farming is essential in order to keep supplying food to an ever growing population. The Five Freedoms The original concept first appeared within the Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals kept under Intensive Livestock Husbandry Systems, the Brambell Report, December 1965 (HMSO London, ISBN 0 10 850286 4). This acknowledged the need for farm animals to have freedom â€Å"to stand up, lie down, turn around, groom themselves and stretch their limbs† â€Å"The Five Freedoms are: 1. Freedom from hunger and thirst – By ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour;† Ensure troughs, nipple drinkers and any other feeding instruments are at an appropriate location and height for animals, and that these instruments are cleaned and checked for blockages on a daily basis. All cattle require that sufficient roughage be readily available. Sheep require fresh, clean water be available at all times. â€Å"2. Freedom from discomfort – By providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area;† Ensuring there is enough space for the animal to move freely and have fresh, clean bedding appropriate to that species, such as straw. A pigs resting area should remain dry, which can be achieved by being on a slightly higher level than its dunging area. â€Å"3. Freedom from pain injury or disease – By prevention or by rapid diagnosis and treatment;† Livestock housed intensively should be kept in buildings with an effective ventilation system and kept out of draughts to minimise respiratory problems. Monitoring for signs of disease, stress, illness, infestation and lameness is essential to ensure this can be dealt with appropriately and promptly. Ensuring all farm animals have appropriate vaccinations against diseases, such as bluetongue in cattle. Procedures should be in place to isolate and treat any injured or sick animal. Any animals should be humanely killed if found to be incurable. â€Å"4. Freedom to express most normal behaviour – By providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kind;† Farmers should determine space allowance according to animal, class, age, and size. For example, DEFRA provide this table as an example of good practise within housed sheep – (1) Normal social interaction is important too, for example, pigs housed indoors are kept in groups after weaning, usually separated by gender. Toys, like footballs, can also help with the enrichment of the animal. â€Å"5. Freedom from fear and distress – By ensuring conditions and treatment to avoid mental suffering.† (2) Ensuring stock-keepers are fully trained and have the knowledge and skills to carefully manage any farm animal sympathetically, from being able to handle and herd the animals effectively, to providing accurate injury or illness care. Environment and Housing Requirements for Pigs The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2003 states there are different requirements, in terms of space and temperature, dependant on the stage, size and class of pig. Though, some factors have to be taken into account throughout all types, such as comfortable and dry bedding, which can be seen in all the below images, as the college farm uses clean, fresh straw throughout. (3) (4) Farrowing Sows and Piglets – The image directly below shows a sow with ten piglets within the farrowing village in the college farm. This shows the sow and piglets have enough space to stand up and manoeuvre, inside and out of the arc. The above images show a drinker, providing clean fresh water, and a feeding trough providing pellets. Weaner and Rearing Pigs – The same regulations state the minimum unobstructed floor area available to each weaner and rearing pig should be at least – (5) The above picture shows the colleges pigs in first stage. Weaners and rearer pigs should have adequate space in order to exercise, feed and for all pigs to lie flat on their side simultaneously, which the above pictures demonstrate. The images also show feeding troughs are raised and at an accessible height for the pigs to feed comfortably and separately from resting areas. Dry Sows and Gilts – (6) (2) As well as being able to move around freely, the pigs resting area requires to be elevated in comparison to its dunging area to ensure their resting area remains clean and dry. Concrete slatted floors are used within the pig unit as this proves to be smooth and easy to keep hygienic and also not slippery which could lead to accidents and injury. Lighting, ventilation and temperature control is also vital to promote pig health. The college pig units provide natural lighting and ventilation within the roofs, the latter of which help remove noxious gases and control temperatures. Controlling the pig's feeds and bedding also helps maintain the appropriate temperature. As mentioned previously, the recommended temperature varies dependant on the category of pig, the table above shows this. Livestock Health and Welfare There are two main factors to be taken into account whilst discussing health and welfare, those being mental and physical. In terms of livestock mental health and welfare, one of the factors to take into account would be the animal's stimulus. This could be objects the animal can entertain itself with, such as a ball, or even just animals of the same species to interact with. An animal may suffer mentally or become stressed if it is left segregated without anything to aid mental enrichment. On the physical side, illnesses common within certain farm animals may be a problem if not properly vaccinated against, illnesses such and foot and mouth among pigs and cattle. Respiratory problems can occur if housing for farm animals does not have the required ventilation measures in place. Issues could occur during the transportation of livestock; whether this is physical in that the animal is mishandled or if the transportations flooring is not so as to prevent slipping, or mentally in that the animal may become stressed, especially if force is used within the process. All these aspects and more all come down to one main factor, stockmanship. Providing stock-keepers have the acquired knowledge and skills from onsite training and relevant courses, these factors should all be well manageable. From handling skills and care, to preventing and treating illnesses and parasites, and other general maintenance required to ensure health and welfare is upheld.

Marriage Is No Longer A Right - 918 Words

In the recent decades, the marriage trends has been gradually transforming. The image people have about marriage nowadays might be completely different from that of before. People have become more invested in getting to fulfill emotional needs from marriage. In For Better, For Worse: Marriage means Something Different Now, Stephanie Coontz explains that marriage is no longer a means to control sexuality, parenting or division of labor between men and women; the focus is shifted to love. As a result, instability of marriage may arise. Moreover, people would rather remain single or get divorce solely based on love. She argues that living together has also become a popular alternative to traditional marriage. Coontz believes that increased participation of women in the labor force and education has slowed down marriage. She reports that many countries are also adjusting laws for divorce, unmarried couples with children, including same-sex couples. Coontz argues that promoting traditional values may no longer be enough to restore the importance of marriage. She rejects that easier access to divorce harms marriage, arguing that people are not enthusiastic to give up their rights. Coontz concludes that marriage has evolved for better or worse and people need to accept the reality. As Coontz has explained, many people preferences in marriage has changed but some of these changes might cost more harm than the benefits it brings. In fact, the most apparent victims of theseShow MoreRelatedIs Marriage Still Relevant?1701 Words   |  7 PagesIs Marriage Still Relevant? Many things have changed over the course of time. Change ranges from what people wear to how people talk. Change in inevitable, but one of the largest changes is the relevancy of marriage. Marriage has changed greatly over time, the help of many outside influences. 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