Based on your clinical experiences with those who are dying, how have these experiences shaped your view of death and impacted your ability to demonstrate the qualities of empathy?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies: 2.1
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Sample Solution
Witnessing the existing tapestry of humanity fade thread by thread has woven its delicate pattern into individual perceptions of death. This is no longer a looming shadow, but a nuanced landscape, which is rich with emotions as diverse as the individuals I’ve accompanied in this final journey.
Empathy, which is considered to be a concept gleaned from textbooks has emerged to be a visceral response that is honed by countless bedside vigils. I can attest that the silent squeeze of a hand tends to speak volumes of unspoken fear, the quiet hum of a familiar hymn tends to soothe a troubled soul, and the tear that mirrors the grief held back by the patient for too long (Doherty et al., 2022). This concept is woven from attentive listening, unspoken understanding, and an overall delicate dance of respecting boundaries while at the same time offering unwavering presence.
I have learned that death cannot be considered a singular entity, but a stream of experiences. Some patients whisper their goodbyes amidst family’s embrace, often bathed in the soft glow of acceptance; while others tend to navigate the storm of unfinished business, grappling with regrets and also yearning for closure. There are also varying moments of stoic surrender, that are punctuated by bursts of fierce determination to savor remaining breath (Fowler & Koenig, 2023). It is important to understand that every patient’s journey is unique and also demands an ever-evolving dance of empathy.
The profound encounter with increased incidences of mortality has further fostered a profound appreciation for the preciousness of life. The memorable moments including shared laughter, simple comfort of companionship, and unhurried conversation, suddenly tend to acquire a luminous intensity. Witnessing souls reaching for the small glimmers of light in the face of their imminent dimming has become a reminder for everyone to cherish every sunrise, every shared meal, every whispered ‘I love you.’
Death, which is considered a distant abstraction, has often become a poignant teacher, stripping away superficial distractions and amplifying the real essence of who we are as human beings. It has further developed my skills in empathy into a fine-tuned instrument, therefore allowing me to resonate with the deepest chords of human experience including love, fear, grief, and the spirit that grapples with its fading flame (Malikentzou et al., 2022). It is an honor to stand beside the grieving souls as they tend to navigate the final frontier, and their stories etching themselves onto the canvas of human beings, shaping my traits to be more present, empathetic, compassionate, and a grateful member of humanity.
References
Doherty, A. M., Axe, C. J., & Jones, D. A. (2022). Investigating the relationship between euthanasia and/or assisted suicide and rates of non-assisted suicide: systematic review. BJPsych open, 8(4), e108.
Fowler, W. C., & Koenig, H. G. (2023). Should Physician-Assisted Suicide or Euthanasia be Legalized in the United States? A Medically Informed Perspective. Journal of Religion and Health, 1-17.
Malikentzou, N., Douzenis, A., Chatzinikolaou, F., Bali, P., & Michopoulos, I. (2022). Modern bioethical issues: Euthanasia, physician assisted suicide and abortion. Comparative study of attitudes between physicians and law professionals. Psychiatriki, 33(1), 49-55.
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Because everyone’s life is deemed valuable to God, the choice of suicide or euthanasia contradicts this and is therefore considered sin. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Sample Solution
Suicide and euthanasia are both controversial topics in health care. From a Christian worldview standpoint, human life has incalculable value because it is created, upheld, and sustained in spite of sin, redeemed by God, and is ultimately destined for eternal communion and glory with God (Bogue et al., 2022). As with many topics in this course, I find myself torn with these sensitive topics as well. I do not necessarily believe suicide is a sin, nor should it be considered a means to end one’s life. As healthcare providers, we are in the business of saving people, treating their conditions, and helping them heal. Having cared for many patients with mental health disorders who struggle to find the right medication regimen, the right support system, and the balance between their illness and addictions, their lives are challenging, to say the least. This population of patients tugs at my heart as they often fall through the cracks. Do I think it should be considered a sin if they take their own life because they can no longer stand the loud voices in their head, violent outbursts, or poor life circumstances caused by their illness? No. I do not believe suicide is the answer, however, I cannot judge someone who acts on their suicidal thoughts, as I have no idea what is going on in their brain.
Euthanasia is also extremely controversial. Again, the Christian faith views this as a sin as all human beings are created in the image of God. There are obviously many factors to consider when discussing euthanasia. Do I feel that it is right to euthanize those whose lives we deem no longer valuable or a burden to society? Absolutely not. Nobody has a moral right to decide for another person whether his life is worth living or not, because, for one person his pain can be unbearable to the point that his life is of no value, while for others pain cannot be compared with the values of life (Banovic et al., 2017). However, when it comes to a patient with a terminal illness who lives a poor quality of life and no longer wishes to live, I believe they should be given the option to make that decision for themselves. Following the strict guidelines and ensuring the patient is of sound mind, of course, to be able to make this decision. Are we then challenging the principle of justice if we deny them the right to die and force them to live the rest of their days in pain and suffering? Death is inevitable for all of us. I do not believe we have the right to decide for patients when it comes to ending their lives in these circumstances. Our jobs are to provide comfort, educate them and empower them to make the most educated decision possible.
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References
Banovic, B., Turanjanin, V., & Miloradovic, A. (2017). An ethical review of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Iran J Public Health, 46(2): 173-179. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5402774/
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Bogue, D. W., Hogan, M., White, N. H., Hoehner, P. J., Self, C. W., & Evans, K. (2022). Practicing dignity: An introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care (2nd ed.). Grand Canyon University. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000591/epub/Chapter4.html#page_192
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Death and Dying: Case Analysis
Assessment Description
The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths. This calls for basic knowledge and understanding of different faith expressions. No matter what someone’s worldview is, death and dying is a difficult experience whether emotions are expressed or not. For the purpose of this assignment, the focus will be on the Christian worldview.
Read the “Case Study: End-of-Life Decisions” document or one provided by your instructor. Based on the reading of the case, the Christian worldview, and the worldview questions presented in the required topic Resources, you will complete an ethical analysis of situation of the individual(s) and their decisions from the perspective of the Christian worldview.
Based on your reading of “Case Study: End-of-Life Decisions” document (or one provided by your instructor) and topic Resources, complete the “Death and Dying: Case Analysis” document in a maximum of 2,000 words, in which you will analyze the case study in relation to the following:
- Christian view of the fallen world and the hope of resurrection
- Christian worldview of the value of life
- Christian worldview of suffering
- Empathy for the individual(s) as they are supported and cared, actions, and their consequence
- Respect for the perspectives of individual(s) different from personal and professional values, conscious and unconscious biases related to human rights in health care practice, actions, and their consequences
- Personal decision-making based on personal worldview
Support your response using only the following Topic 4 Resources:
Chapter 4 from the textbook Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision-Making in Health Care
“Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Theological and Ethical Responses”
“Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equality”
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies 9.1, 9.2, 9.6