We started a discussion about the film from the first day of class, but you might have more to say about it. I've emailed you a list of some questions to prompt you, or feel free to comment on other aspects of the film, our discussion, related current events, etc.
What does it mean to say that “death is natural”?
ReplyDeleteTo die a natural death would be to die from a natural disease process such as heart failure. Dying naturally would mean that one or more of the person's organs had failed and inevitably the heart would stop working as well, resulting in death.
What is physician-assisted suicide (PAS)? Should it be legal? Is it legal? Where? Under what conditions? What are the arguments against PAS?
Physician assisted suicide is when a physician gives the terminally ill patient who wants to die a lethal cocktail of drugs to take when he/she is ready to die. PAS is only legal in Oregon and Washington and the patient must have a terminal illness and must be able to administer the medication to himself without help. Arguments against PAS are mostly about whether or not PAS is ethical or moral. Many people with religious backgrounds are against PAS because they believe that death should occur naturally and that no one has the right to choose when they die.
What is the job/duty/calling of a physician? Does PAS fit in there? Other health professionals?
The duty of a physician is to do no harm to his patient and do everything he can for the patient's benefit as long as no one else is harmed in the process. PAS may fit in this category to some but maybe not to others. If a person is suffering and feels that they will die without dignity, it may be in the patient's best interest to have PAS so that they no longer suffer. Others may say that PAS is wrong for physicians to take part in because they are harming the individual with death before it would naturally occur.
Other health care professionals such as nurses, are not expected to participate in PAS; it goes against the ANA code of ethics to do what is in the best interest of the patient.
The film was very interesting and obviously depressing. I never realized that some students believe that taking a patient off of nutrition and hydration could be considered assisted suicide. I personally have mixed feelings about the subject. I would have to step back and let someone else administer the medication to ends someone's life. I personally could never administer the medication that the patient desires. I do not believe that it is right for the patient to suffer in any way, whether that be physically, mentally, emotionally, or all of the above. I do not believe that it is right for a physician to ignore a patient's wishes if they are TERMINALLY ill, and there is no hope to extend their life without causing them more distress. However,if a patient wishes to end their life but is not terminally ill, if there is a way we can possibly treat the ailment the patient has I do not agree with assisted suicide. As a health care professional it is our duty to maintain the health and well being of our patients. If our patient is able to be "saved" in a sense, then it is our obligation to implement any actions that may preserve this patient's life. But, if a patient is terminally ill, and they are refusing any treatment, or if our treatments are not working, and they choose to end their life via assisted suicide, I believe that the physician should uphold the patient's wishes. I understand that this a very difficult matter to discuss, not to mention follow through with. However, if the tables were turned, would you want someone to ignore your last wishes?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I share the same sentiment of most people in that I would like to die in the most peaceful way possible, and at home, without ever having to be in a nursing home. This is probably not how most Americans die though. I would say that most Americans die in either the hospital, or some long term care facility. It is not as big of a part of American culture to care for our dying or sick relatives ourselves, which allows most Americans to be removed from the dying process. We don't have to be the people caring day after day for our sick loved ones, and so we can pretend that it isn't happening or we can at least ignore the worst parts about the process.
ReplyDeleteI've never "blogged" before so don't be a hater is this blog stanks. Here goes errythang..
ReplyDeleteI have thought how the human body is so frail. My body is made up of many different systems that have been coordinated together, to make a functional human being. And to sit here and describe the way I want to die when there are so many possibilities, almost seems pointless. But if I had to pick my perfect death, it would go something like this: I want to live till I'm 100 years old. On my 100th birthday, I want to still be functional mentally and it would be great if I was physically functional too, but living in a nursing home so my family wouldn't have to deal with my soiling my pants. But I want them to take me to one of my kid's house to have my birthday and after that, they can send me right back to the nursing home. When I get back in there, I'd want to catch a bad case of pneumonia or something of the sort (I think that it was easier for my grandma to witness my grandpa die because she watched him "go" gradually through a years), but in any case, I want to give my family a heads up that I'm going to die rather than just go, so that I could say my good byes and stuff. And then one night, I'll look out my window and see the most beautiful sun set ever, and then pass away in my sleep. My ideal death.
Thinking about what suffering means to me is challenging. I think that suffering covers a broad spectrum. When I think of suffering, I see an individual who cannot help the fact that he is in pain. I see a person that is weeping because of his constant pain and then I see a person that is writhing and screaming in pain. I see suffering in a person that is angry because he cannot seem to remember what happened yesterday in his life. I think that this mental block causes suffering because of the fact that the person knows his mental status is deteriorating. I then see the parents of the patient. I see them crying because they cannot do anything to help their son be free of pain. To me, suffering is the pain, anxiety, the feeling of helplessness, and fear that a person and his/her family go through some detriment.
I do have an obligation to take care for a family member that is dying, especially if it was my mom or dad. My parents are amazing people, and they have done so much for me already, that I am in debt to them forever. I am a strong believer that the environment that a child grows up in will determine if the child will be a benefit to society or not. My parents have their faults but they are great people who have taught me to be an honest, hardworking guy, along with other life skills and because they have done this for me, the least I can do is take care of them. I’m not saying that I could do it singlehandedly because I do plan on living life big, but my family comes first and I would try my best to make sure the support they need are available. I know that my words don’t mean anything until my actions are shown, but when you are lying on your death bed, I would think that my parents would be scared and I would want to be there for them and because they have been there for me every day for the past 20 years (and counting..)
.scottyboi.
So there is one part in the film that for some reason I keep visualizing every time I read this prompt. It is during one the scene when the patient with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) is talking with his doctor and states that its not fair that he has to choose to end his life earlier than he would like because he has to be able to do it. Further more, it was hard to watch the wife during this scene. I could only imagine how torn she was. This might be horrible to say, but if I was her I wouldn't be able to not think about when it was going to end. I'd feel guilty, and wouldn't want to lose my partner, but being such a primary care giver to a ALS patient has to be exhausting. I'm exhausted after a day of work as a nurse assistant and its only for eight or twelve hours. She cares for him 24/7. Is that fair?
ReplyDeleteI think that as health care professionals death is something that is unavoidable, no matter how hard we work to prevent it. I'm not against PSA, but I do not know to what extend I would be able to assist in my patient's death. To me a good death is one that is painless but expected. I hope that I get to live a long life and tell all my loved ones I love them before I die. Sadly, the likelihood of this happening seems slim since the major cause of death include heart disease, cancer, stroke, and unintentional accidents.
My experience with death is limited. However, I will never forget my first death. The patient was talking to me one minute, and then five minutes later there was a sign on the door that said do not enter. The nurses cleaned the patient up and let the family say their goodbyes. It wasn't until four hours later that I was handed a big white bag and told to put the patient in it that the fact that she was gone hit me. I will never forget how cold she was already, or how heavy she felt as we rolled her side to side to get the body bag under her so we could zip her up. Death at that moment felt so unnatural to me. It was hard to imagine that the body in front of me was now just like an empty shell.
I found the film very enjoyable. It was obviously very depressing, but it gave me another point of view regarding assisted suicide. I did not realize that some people viewed withholding fluids and nutrition as assisted suicide. It does make sense though when you think about it. It is true that the patient's underlying illness may kill them first, however, a person will surely die without proper nutrition needed to heal themselves. As stated earlier, I personally could never assist with a patient's wishes to carry out a means to end their own life. I would have to hand the case over to another colleague. However, I do not believe that it is right for a patient to suffer through life, nor do I believe that it is right for us to ignore a patient's wishes. If we were in there shoes, would we want to be ignored? Most certainly not. We would want our sense of autonomy and dignity to stay intact throughout this horrid process. As we all know it is very difficult to try and make a decision about a situation in which we have had no prior experience.
ReplyDeleteI tried to take a good look at the blogs that had already been posted before commenting. The most striking comment for me personally was made by Christy. That for most of us in the professions we’ve chosen death is going to be an unavoidable part of the job that we could see on a fairly regular basis. The hope that every death we witness would be natural and painless, as I’m sure we all hope our own deaths will be, is fairly unrealistic considering the various health complications and diseases a person can come across in their lifetime. As the video presents to us we’re sure to see people suffering in terminal situations and though I personally don’t have a moral stance against PSA but I’m not sure if I could actively assist in aiding a terminally ill patient to end their own life.
ReplyDeleteWhen considering my experiences with death, which are all related to family deaths, it makes it less likely that I could consider being involved in assisting in a PSA. In one instance hospice was involved, my experience with hospice was very comforting; the nurses made my family feel as if the care provided was the very best possible and we never felt any regret about opting for in home hospice care. Before her death she always said she wanted to spend every last minute she had with us.
I’m sure in different situations where the terminally ill actually wished to end their life the feelings and emotions surrounding the situation might be different and I could support a person’s right to make that choice. However, I’m almost certain I could not be a health professional involved in the process of assisting in of PSA.
As someone who works with the elderly and watches them live their lives to the fullest in their last couple of years, it allows me to think about death in a way that is comforting. Alot of my residents decline and warn their families that they do not have much more time. Alot of the residents that I love dearly and have gotten to know so well pass away after a nice visit with their families; When their families tell them to go and be home with God, the residents usually go shortly after. The way I would like to die is similiar. I would love to have one last visit with my family and the people that I love, give them hugs and kisses and be told that it is now okay to be with God. Alot of my residents accept death and I hope that I can live to be old and happy to a point where I can accept death and be with the ones who went before me.
ReplyDeleteFor awhile, the only experiences I have had with death are with those of the elderly that I work with. But, recently I lost a really good friend in a car accident. It has been really hard and explaining the way that I want to die seems selfish. Everyone wants to grow old with the ones they love and be with them before they die! And to know that was taken away from my friend is hard to except. I really haven't had any other experiences with death besides that.
I think that it depends on whether the person or the illness gets the attention. If all of a sudden a person is in a car accident and had multiple things wrong, the illness should get the attention. Fixing the illness is what can keep that person alive in such a horrible condition. But, if it is a life long disease, then the person should get the attention. It is obvious that the person is going to die, the person should have their wants and needs granted and should be able to live the rest of the life that they can without always having to be reminded of the condition they are living with. If I had a terminal disease I would want comfort measures to stay as pain free as I could and be able to live my life to the fullest until God decides to take me to his home.
I do not have an obligation to care for a family member that is dying, but I would care for that family member! If i were dying i would hope that they would care for me! I would help them with whatever they needed help with! It would take up my time, but people should be supported at the end of their life. They should know that someone is there and loves them! They should have someone to cry to, or hold onto when they are in pain! I would want to be there to listen to the family member about their thoughts and feelings! I would want someone to do this for me, so why shouldn't I do it for them? People should be with their families! Family is the most important thing to me! And if I can be with someone and make their day a little better by being there and supporting them, there is no cost to that! Only a gift!
I, like Camille, found this film very interesting, and enjoyable. Although I have been around the idea of assisted suicide before, it was interesting to hear and see others reactions. I watched my best friend's mom die of ALS, so although it was hard I was able to relate a lot to the film. Many cannot see or begin to understand the issue surrounding assisted suicide until they personally encounter it. I cannot say that it is "right", but it does fit and is very understandable in some situations. However, even though I agree with assisted suicide in some ways, I could not be able to administer the medicine to someone who was able to still speak, and function.
ReplyDeleteMy first personal experience with death was when Liza was dieing of ALS; she attempted first to suffocate herself while she still had some strength, and then to overdose on pain meds. This was traumatizing to not only her but her family, especially impacting on her 2 daughters. Many don't understand that when dying of ALS, you are aware of everything. One person made a comment in class about how the person in the film was always worried about the next step, but in the eyes of someone suffering from this disease it is a fear that you cannot escape; a worry that stays in the back of your mind through each stage until death. Eventually after all the pain and sufferings she was arranged to move to Oregon for the assisted suicide to be set up. She said her long, tearful goodbyes and then eventually backed out. Liza,several months later was induced into a coma, and refused any parenteral feedings. Although it was hard to watch, I do agree with the sufferers in the movie that there should be a form of assisted suicide that occurs when there is no longer and form of life. When one can no longer speak, swallow, communicate; to assure only then, that they were able to live out their life to its fullest potential and not drag on their sufferings.
After watching someone who was able to anticipate their death, I believe I would prefer to die peacefully in my sleep, unknowing of any path my life will take. I believe in living life to the fullest and therefore would rather keep my positive memories with my family and friends, than the sad goodbyes and pain/hurt.
When I was watching this movie, I felt like I was in complete shock because it was weird to see people making decisions about when they were going to die because usually when you have a terminal illness you just wait and let the illness take its course. I really didn't pay attention to the news before this, and the first time I learned about physician-assisted suicide (PSA) was during this movie. However, now that I think about it, I don't have a big problem with PSA because I rather die peacefully instead of a death in pain that could be caused by the illness. All the experiences I have had with death, even though there aren't that many, have been peaceful and they weren't in any pain. My grandpa had died in the hospital before a procedure because they had to run some tests. While the nurses were prepping for the procedure, my grandpa had passed away in his sleep. He knew it was his time to die because right before he left his room, my grandma told him that she would see him when he came out. All he could say was that he loved her and he told her good bye. I knew that he couldn't avoid death because we all were expecting it to be soon, but I didn't think it was going to happen when it. However, I was glad that he wasn't in any pain once he died even though he had been in pain during the last couple of weeks because he had a couple different illnesses. This experience and watching the movie helped me realize that I rather die peacefully before an illness could take over my body and end the great life I have lived in pain.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have this view that people in America want to die in their sleep at an older age. They want to die once they have decided that they have lived out their life to the fullest and have accepted all the right and wrong decisions they might have made in the past. Also, I think that they want to make sure that they have influenced the younger generations to make the right decisions to live a better life and to make a difference with what ever they want to do. No one wants to die of an illness, but if they do become ill and they know that they are going to die soon, then once they have accepted the idea of dying, they will be ready to die. No one ever expects that they might be the one who dies at a younger age because of a car accident, or if they get diagnosed with cancer even though they might know other people that it could have happen to. Even though we have all these thoughts about how we want to die, we never really know what life has planned for us so we must live life to the fullest now instead of waiting till later to plan to do something.
Working in the healthcare field, I have seen my fair share of deaths. I have thought of dying and the decisions that family have to make sometimes. It has brought me to a point in my life where I have talked to my mom about making sure she has a living will that my sister and I can turn to, if need be. I haven't spoke to my dad about it because my dad is very clear about what he does and doesn't want done. I have thought about it and I feel that for me I would want to die at home and peacefully. In reality I'm aware that it doesn't really happen like that very often. In that case I just want to be with family where ever I may be. I don't want to be living if it means that a machine is keeping me alive. I have nothing against those that want things differently than me, I just have my own preference.
ReplyDeleteI think that every state should have a law that allows patients to make the decision to have physician assisted suicide. It is their body and their pain and suffering, they should be allowed to manage it as seen fit to them. Obviously there would have to be assessments to be made to make sure the patient is cognitively capable of making such decisions as this. If I were the doctors, I don't think I would be able to administer medication that would end someone's life. If I were asked, I would have to find someone that could and myself refuse. I couldn't go home and have something like that on my conscience at night, especially since I would be trained in all manners of saving lives, not ending them.
ReplyDeleteThere were many feelings that I experienced while watching the film on the first day of class. I felt sad for both of the families suffering and sorrows. I was also very surprised on the policies and rules of both states that allowed assisted suicide. When I read the first question about how I want to die I really had to reflect on it. If I was in good health and had no terminal issues, I would wish the death anyone else would. I would want to be at home surrounded by the ones that love me. If Iwere terminally ill and suffering, I would want to be comforted to try and ease my pain. I don't think I could choose a date for me to die if I was allowed it.
ReplyDeleteI am not a nursing student and I have not experienced death in a clinical setting ,but I have had experienced it in a personal setting. I have had experiences where a school friend has died in a car accident and it hurt the whole family, friends, and community. I have grown up with my grandparents dying when I was at a young age and it never really hurt me because I didn't understand death. This past summer my aunt died at the age of 63 and it was the hardest thing that has happened to me and my family. She had a massive heart attack and was on a ventilator for three days when we were told she had already been clinically dead. This personally was the most real life thing that has happened to me.
This leads in to the question relating to suffering. I saw my aunt living by a machine. It was hard to see her being kept alive by her families will . It was something for her family to do just for a chance of hope. I believe that keeping her on any longer would have caused suffering to not only her but all of her family. Because her heart attack was not planned, none of her family knew what her wishes were. I believe suffering is knowing you have said something you want done , but in the end never being able to have it done.
Overall, this movie has given me a different look at life and death. I also have another understanding of assisted suicide and natural death. It was a good perspective from two different lifestyles and what they were going through when death was approaching them.
I have a lot of the same views as Angie. I am not in nursing, so I am not used to death and illness. However, I have gone through the deaths of 3 grandparents and some cousins. About a year ago, my grandpa was admitted to the hospital after beating cancer for many years. It was so hard for my family to watch him basically deceased, hooked up to a machine. I truly feel for anyone who has to go through this situation.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would like to die of old age in my sleep. Most people have said this, and I'm sure anyone would like to go this way.
Death is never an easy concept to grasp, but it is one that is inevitable for human life. I, like almost every other person, would like to pass away painlessly surrounded by my family and friends. I would want to be able to say goodbye to the ones I love, and give them the peace of mind knowing that I am accepting of the death before me. I think this would not only make it easier for me, but also the friends and family that I would leave behind.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that the key to a death that I have just described is the comfort of the patient. If the patient is not comfortable and is in a lot of pain, it is difficult for them to be accepting of their inevitable death. This also makes it difficult for their friends and family to say goodbye. This is where the topic of physician assisted suicide comes into play. I completely believe in making a suffering patient comfortable to meet their death wishes, but I do not think I would be personally able to administer the medication to end a patient's life. I do not think there is a right or wrong answer to this conflict, and I do believe that each situation is different, resulting in separate decisions and outcomes.
i have never really given a lot of thought about the way i would like to die, but i do know i would prefer to die a painless death. Deathis one of my biggest fears.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i was too young to remember much i have experience death personally. After getting hit with a door when i was 15 months old, my heart stopped beating. My dad and mom frantically gave me CPR and called 911. By the time the paramedics arrived i had no pulse and a police man brought me back to life on my living room floor. This led to many seizures, sometimes daily, for the next 6 years.
Even though i would like to die a painless death when it is my time to go, i know that most deaths are not like that. Many Americans die painful deaths every day.
Knowing how hard my parents and the policeman fought for my life and how my own body struggled to live, i can not imagine willfully choosing to end my own life or somebody else. I believe giving the dying as much comfort as possible would be the best solution rather than helping one die.
So I wrote this last week and am now just getting back to it because I forgot about it...I also believe that this movie was very interesting. Along with other students, I couldn't imagine telling someone when I want to die if I were going through some type of illness. I want to be the person who has a peaceful death like many others who would want the same. After watching this movie, it made me think about the people who I have known that died recently who had an illness and were in pain in the final stages of their life. One of my friend's dad had ALS and it was similar to the case in the movie. He wanted to give his life away because there was no use to living anymore once he moved into a state that he could no longer do anything for himself. But he lived on for as long as he could because of his four daughters. He had so much support from his family and friends that would help take care of him when he couldn't. Other situation that deals with death related to an illness was my uncle. My uncle was diagnosed with cancer and was told he only had 6 months to live. Every day you could see him become weaker and weaker. It was very hard for me to visit him because it made me so upset because he was feeling so bad. He once stated that he wanted to die because he was in so much pain, but he lived in pain for all of his nieces, nephews, brother, and sisters as long as he could. He was a trooper and I could never imagine dying in pain. My uncle died at home and he had so much support from all of the family members. Since we all live on the same street, there was always someone with him at all times. We were all so supportive of him and would help him with whatever he needed. I can tell you that no one ever wants to die in pain. They always want to die in their sleep peacefully as someone mentioned before. I don't know why any one would want to be suffering. To me it is the worst thing possible and I hate when I see others suffer.
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