Ethics And Professional Practice (ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE)

Running Head: Ethics And Professional Practice
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

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Ethics And Professional Practice
Table of Contents
1. Defining ethical issue: Allowing Physician-Assisted Death (PAD)......................................3
2. Ethical question......................................................................................................................3
3. Different perspective of the issue...........................................................................................3
4. Describing and analyzing positions adopted by two selected individuals (1 Doctor and 1
legal advisor)..............................................................................................................................4
5. Articulating professional and personal position, and potential challenges............................6
Reference list..............................................................................................................................8
Appendix..................................................................................................................................11

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Ethics And Professional Practice
1. Defining ethical issue: Allowing Physician-Assisted Death (PAD)
Physician-assisted dying is legal in different regions of the world like California. However, at
the same time, a question arises regarding the ethical acceptability of the support activity. As
opined by Battin, Rhodes & Silvers (2015), PAD is considered as support as baby boomers
are growing older. Survey shows that near about 50 percent of doctors support this activity
because it helps to provide relief to the patients from their sufferings. PAD can be defined as
a physician providing a lethal dose on a patient request to end life (Appelbaum, 2016). Some
group of people thinks that harming patients cannot be supported while providing care. This
creates an ethical dilemma.
2. Ethical question
Should a person suffering from chronic disease be allowed for physician-assisted death
(PAD)?
3. Different perspective of the issue
Two different perspectives are associated with this ethical issue. As mentioned by Petrillo et
al. (2017), a group of people thinks that PAD is a right of an individual and it helps them to
get rid of their painful life as per their consent. On the other hand, another group of people
believes that life is a gift of God and it must not be ended by human beings. This argument is
very old and legal system of different countries has been framed with different perspectives.
As stated by Hudson, Hudson, Philip, Boughey, Kelly & Hertogh (2015), ethics differs from
moral to morality. In terms of morality, ethics deals with a well-known standard of rightness.
However, moral is a belief about a stereotypic consideration. These two perspectives are very
common in terms of argument with PAD. in many countries, PAD is legal and it is easier for

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Ethics And Professional Practice
a person to opt for PAD. For example, people of Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands,
Canada, Colombia, six states of US including Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, and
Montana, are able to make their decision about their life. Frey & Hans (2016) have described
that, as per the legal system of these countries, people have autonomy to make their decision
about end of life and healthcare professionals faceless ethical dilemma in assisting suicide.
Other countries are still facing an ethical dilemma regarding PAD. As mentioned by Karsoho,
Fishman, Wright & Macdonald (2016), doctors, nurses and healthcare practitioners are liable
to save lives of people. They are morally bound to perform this duty. This aspect has become
a part of their mindset. Hence, it is difficult for them to assist in suicide. These kind of
personalities are holding the moral belief that a person cannot get assistance in dying. As
contradicted by Petrillo et al. (2017), development of society is allowing people to focus on
morality. They understand that the right decision must be taken even if it is hard. Based on
this perspective, legal system of several countries is allowing physicians to assist in the
suicide of patient with non-curable diseases. It can be seen that some of the physicians
believe in the concept of virtue ethics. Aim of this kind of people is to maintain good public
relations by focusing on virtues. Another group of physicians rely on deontological ethics and
make decisions according to the situation. This kind of physicians is able to assist in suicide
after evaluating poor condition of the patient. Both of these perspectives are partially correct
and one of these can be chosen after evaluating all related aspects in case of PAD.
4. Describing and analyzing positions adopted by two selected individuals (1 Doctor and
1 legal advisor)
Response about the question was collected from two people who are involved in this process
of PAD. A doctor and a legal advisor were involved in the study.
Response from doctor: