- Catholic teaching on withholding food to hasten death code#
- Catholic teaching on withholding food to hasten death professional#
- Catholic teaching on withholding food to hasten death free#
In the UK, the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying (LCP) was established to guide healthcare practitioners in decision‐making for patients in their end of life (Ellershaw & Murphy, 2005 Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, 2013 Seymour & Clark, 2018). This suggests that as humans, our way of thinking tends to determine our moral conduct. Nevertheless, Ellis and Engward ( 2017) asserted that a person's stance on this disputable issue depends on their philosophical and spiritual beliefs. Although the practice of assisted death has been legalized in countries like Netherland, Belgium and Switzerland, it is illegal to aid suicide in the United Kingdom (UK) and therefore considered a crime (Rehmann‐Sutter et al., 2015 Suicide Act, 1961). Tong ( 1995) and Johnstone ( 2016) also suggested that the conduct of healthcare professionals in such a situation is often out of the fear of litigation or compliance with established guidelines. Ong et al. ( 2012) advised that ethical dilemmas emanate from having to choose between undesirable alternatives, and the vast majority encountered during end‐of‐life care involve those pertaining to disagreements over either withdrawing life‐sustaining treatment or imposing futile medical intervention on patients. There have been controversies over commencing, withholding or withdrawal of treatment during the care of patients in their end of life. While prioritizing healthcare resources to individuals with the best chance of survival seem morally acceptable when considering scarce healthcare resources, from a different viewpoint, it demands that the individual gives up their right to life for others. Nevertheless, many authors disagree with this system as it gives less value to human life and encourages healthcare discrimination during decision‐making (Harris, 1987 Mckie & Richardson, 2018 Neumann et al., 2016). Such unbiassed approach is based on the quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), a more neutral system of healthcare resource allocation which takes into consideration the remaining number of lived years following treatment (Salomon, 2017 World Health Organization 2019a). However, from a utilitarian perspective, a voluntary request to end one's own life with unbearable suffering may be considered obligatory in order to distribute more resources for the welfare of a greater number of people (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019). As healthcare professionals, patients' wishes and interests are meant to come first (Ong et al., 2012).
Catholic teaching on withholding food to hasten death code#
While this gave rise to increased moral values among health professionals, equity and person‐centred healthcare delivery, conflicts do sometimes arise due to opposing values of patients and healthcare professionals in relation to the code of ethics of the profession, thereby leading to the patient's autonomy being impeded (Mccormack & Mccance, 2017 Ringdal et al., 2017).
Catholic teaching on withholding food to hasten death free#
These include, but are not limited to confidentiality, right to decline treatment, the right to be treated with respect, right to informed consent, right to be free from degrading treatment and right to dignity. The International Council of Nurses ( 2012) recognizes patients' rights as a person's fundamental right to health care. The rise of patient's autonomy has brought about significant changes in health care, a positive movement which according to Johnstone ( 2016) has eliminated the impression of being privileged as a patient. Therefore, ethical sensitivity with regard to healthcare delivery entails demonstrating high moral standards by health professionals to meet the patient's needs in a holistic, thoughtful, non‐judgemental way, and with respect for patients' autonomy and dignity. Ellis ( 2017) also stressed that ethical congruence with organizational and personal values is required in delivering holistic patient‐centred care.
Catholic teaching on withholding food to hasten death professional#
While values and beliefs influence our decisions, it is also important to recognize how organizational policies and professional codes affect our relationship with patients and families. These principles are also embedded in the essential skills clusters for nursing education and code of conduct and proficiency for Registered Nurses (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2018a, 2018b).
Lesley and Sharon ( 2015) further proposed that a person's values, culture and beliefs are major factors that shape one's attitude and behaviours which further impacts on the quality of care delivered. Ethical decision‐making in health care has become one of the most sort professional standards which underpin nursing practice (Cody, 2013 Mooi, 2017 Seedhouse, 2017).
0 kommentar(er)
