Euthanasia

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infectious childhood diseases, death at a young age was common. In 1915 the average life expectancy was 54.5 years. Today the average is about 75 years. Most adults who died were not really old by today�s standard. (Ogg 2) Death was part of living, commonly taking place at home with family and friends. Bastian 2 Today, as the figures show, death is highly institutionalized. This hiding away makes death easier for everyone to deny. The question of how to treat the dying surfaces. As one doctor stated, �there is a time to resist a disease and a time to recognize that future resistance would be inhumane, as well as futile.� (Kubler-Ross 8) Traditionally, doctors had the responsibility for deciding what should or should not be done for dying patients. Now, patients, their families, and patient representatives have a say in such decisions. Other factors such as religion come into effect as well. Jewish custom sanctions and perhaps even demands the withdrawal of artificial machines to ...

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to live, and was able to breathe without the support of the respirator.(Colen 7) Because of the irony that may occur with certain cases, such as that of Karen Ann Quinlan, questions arise as to what constitutes a person as dead. Brain death has been accepted as the medical basis for declaring a person dead. But as of now brain status does not yet specify criteria for establishing total brain death.(Colen 45) Physicians and nurses may demonstrate a sense of discomfort and sense of guilt when left to face terminally-ill patients. The concern for what happens after the plug is pulled must be taken into account. As it stands, a doctor is not held responsible for not putting a patient on a ...

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