In patient-centered care, end of life is one of the most important aspects of health care systems. Advanced nursing and medical studies have increased the knowledge regarding the process of dying, giving the humans the privilege of selecting the method, location and approximate period of death. Similarly, intervening in the death process can also increase the lifespan of a person, even when there is little hope of living longer or full recovery. Despite the vast knowledge of mortality, there are still contemporary end-of-life issues that remain contradictory among different cultures.
One of the primary reasons why end-of-life issues have not been sufficiently addressed is because of different values held by various religions, cultures and beliefs. Life is highly valued in most of the cultures and religious groups. It is believed that only the Supreme Being is allowed to take, give or control how long a person is supposed to live. Moreover, there are high emotions that are often attached to people since the death of a person means complete extraction of the physical presence of a person. Thus, such emotions and cultural beliefs are the major hindrances that cripple the smooth readdress of end-of-life.
Table of Contents
1. End-of-life Issues
2. Passive Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
3. HIV/AIDS disclosure Issues in Health Care
4. Wrongful Conception, Wrongful Birth, and Wrongful Life
5. Partial birth abortions (PBA)
6. Controversy of Genetic Markers and Stem Cell Research
Objectives and Topics
This work explores the complex landscape of legal and ethical challenges within modern healthcare systems. It examines how individual rights, moral responsibilities, and clinical practices intersect in life-altering medical scenarios.
- End-of-life decision-making and patient autonomy
- Legal implications of medical negligence (Wrongful life/birth/conception)
- Ethical dilemmas surrounding abortion practices
- Privacy rights and stigmatization in HIV/AIDS care
- Moral controversies in stem cell research
Excerpt from the Book
Wrongful Conception, Wrongful Birth, and Wrongful Life
Wrongful conception is a medical negligence claim that results in the conception of a healthy child. In other words, the medical carelessness during sterilization procedures of the parents results to the birth or conception of a health unwanted child. Wrongful birth is a claim brought forward by the parents over the medical negligence that causes the birth of an unhealthy child. It occurs when a health practitioner fails to warn the parents about the disabilities of a child before it is born or reaches in advanced stages. Court proceedings allow the compensation of the cost incurred as a result of the child's disabilities.
Wrongful life is the term given to a legal action where a severely disabled child sues the parents of health organization for being born, rather than terminating it before he is delivered (Falzon, 2014). The legal litigations can also be initiated against a practitioner or a health center for withholding information regarding the disability, genetic disposition during or before the pregnancy. This concept argues that had the mother or the parents provided with such information at the right time; they would opt for an abortion or other conception methods to avert the birth of a physically challenged child.
Summary of Chapters
End-of-life Issues: This chapter introduces the complexities of mortality in healthcare, highlighting how cultural and religious beliefs often conflict with medical interventions at the end of life.
Passive Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: This section differentiates between active medical intervention to end life and the withholding of treatment, emphasizing the necessity of patient consent in both scenarios.
HIV/AIDS disclosure Issues in Health Care: This chapter analyzes the balance between a patient's right to privacy and the necessity of preventing the spread of infection, while addressing the societal stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Wrongful Conception, Wrongful Birth, and Wrongful Life: This section defines specific legal categories of medical negligence related to pregnancy and birth, exploring the ethical tension between parental rights and the value of human life.
Partial birth abortions (PBA): This chapter outlines the heated debate surrounding late-term abortion procedures, presenting the arguments both against the practice and in favor of reproductive autonomy.
Controversy of Genetic Markers and Stem Cell Research: This chapter discusses the ethical challenges of using human embryos for stem cell research, noting the conflict between scientific advancement and the belief that life begins at conception.
Keywords
Bioethics, Medical Law, Euthanasia, Physician-Assisted Suicide, HIV/AIDS, Patient Privacy, Wrongful Birth, Medical Negligence, Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Informed Consent, Healthcare Ethics, Embryology, Reproductive Rights, Disability Claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work provides an overview of the legal and ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals when dealing with life, death, and reproductive issues.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include end-of-life care, medical negligence in pregnancy, HIV/AIDS disclosure policies, abortion ethics, and the moral status of embryos in research.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to examine how conflicting cultural, moral, and legal frameworks complicate clinical decision-making and impact professional nursing and medical practices.
Which methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a literature-based analytical approach, reviewing contemporary legal definitions and ethical arguments established by scholars and regulatory bodies.
What is the main content of the chapters?
Each chapter dissects a specific controversy—such as euthanasia or wrongful birth—to identify the legal liabilities and ethical conflicts involved.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
The paper is characterized by terms like Bioethics, Medical Law, Patient Autonomy, and Informed Consent.
How does the author define the difference between passive euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide?
Passive euthanasia involves withholding life support or treatment to allow natural death, whereas physician-assisted suicide involves the active prescription of substances by a practitioner to facilitate death.
What ethical conflict does the author highlight regarding stem cell research?
The primary conflict exists between the potential scientific benefits of stem cell research and the moral belief that destroying human embryos to obtain them is equivalent to killing a life.
- Citation du texte
- Leonard Kahungu (Auteur), 2016, Contemporary Nursing Issues. Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/368335
