Annotated Bibliography on Euthanasia Assignment Sample

Is Euthanasia Everyone’s Right?

Euthanasia is a term to define the choice of a person to willing take his own life to end the pain and suffering that the person is going through. In many cases, it is the wish of a patient who is suffering from a terminal illness. Various countries have also legalized the practice of Euthanasia, considering the aspect of respecting the autonomy of the patient, which is why it is impertinent to have a clarity on the concept of euthanasia, and view it through different angles in order to understand its appropriateness in today’s world and in today’s healthcare structure.

Annotated Bibliography on Euthanasia

Appelbaum, P. S. (2016). Physician-assisted death for patients with mental disorders—reasons for concern. JAMA psychiatry, 73(4), 325-326

In Applebaum’s article, he describes the limitation of Euthanasia, which is legally being practiced only in a few countries such as Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, four states of the United States and four European countries. This follows a descriptive method and theoretical content analysis. All the countries, involve physician and the other inclusion criteria is to involve of only those patients whose suffering is beyond the efforts of treatment and the patients who are terminally ill. In certain countries such as in Europe, the physicians are being allowed to aid people in dying in case if they are experiencing intolerable suffering due to any condition, which may not even lead to death. This criterion, has led many people with mental disorders to seek euthanasia as an escape option rather than seeking actual medical treatment to better their lives. On the contrary, Appelbaum also brings up the fact that as per the Canadian Supreme Court the idea of having the right to euthanasia violates the country’s “Charter of Rights and Freedom (1982)”. It states that, “Everybody has the right to life, liberty and security and right not to be deprived thereof, except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.”

Rand, J., Lancaster, E., Inwood, G., Cluderay, C., & Marston, L. (2018). Strategies to reduce the euthanasia of impounded dogs and cats used by councils in Victoria, Australia. Animals, 8(7), 100.

Rand, Lancaster, Ingwood & Marston express their opinion about the use of Euthanasia for controlling the population of animals in animal shelters in some countries. On discussing about the subject of Euthanasia as everybody’s right, the authors in the article address the issues of animal rights related to euthanasia. This follows an exploratory research design. They also shed light on the fact that practice of euthanasia for animals causes increase of stress in the employees and therefore, increase in the staff turnover as well. As per their study across 79 Victorian states, the authors reveal that the councils where the rate of euthanasia was low, the reclaim or adoption rate was high. The study also showed that about 74% councils had 10% euthanasia rate for dogs and only 1 council got a percentage for the cats. The strength of the research was that it included the right of every living being, which brought a fresh perspective to the concept of euthanasia. The only limitation of the research was that it was unable to conclude how by securing the right of the animal would impact the animal husbandry and livestock production for driving consumerism and the economy which is heavily dependent on animal husbandry. Kennedy, J. and Kennedy, M. (2018), "The Other Side of Euthanasia: A Practice Perspective from Australia", Grant, B., Drew, J. and Christensen, H. (Ed.) Applied Ethics in the Fractured State (Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations, Vol. (20), Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 55-66. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620180000020005.

In the article, “The Other Side of Euthanasia: A Practice Perspective from Australia”, the authors, reveals that in the twenty-first century, clinical management scenarios justify killing the patients. This follows an exploratory research study. The research paper showcases the idea that killing in the therapeutic armamentarium shall in near future cause exorable erosion what is presently a means of protection not only to the patients but also to the healthcare professionals. conclusion that euthanasia shall have a negative implication on the social and medical scenario of a nation also the healthcare professionals shall be enormously affected if euthanasia is practiced. The Dutch government was the first to legalize the practice of euthanasia, but only for patients who were considered terminally ill, had enough share of their suffering and did not have any relief or hope of life again. The researchers postulated that euthanasia is an act which protects the people from bearing long-term pain and offers them a peaceful passage of passing. The healthcare professionals and medico-legal workers also support the concept of euthanasia considering the cost incurred by the healthcare industry for continuing support of terminally ill patients, such as keeping them on ventilators and in the ICU for a prolonged period of time.

Friesenecker, B., Fruhwald, S., Hasibeder, W., Hörmann, C., Hoffmann, M. L., Krenn, C. G., ... & Roden, C. (2013). Definitions, decision-making and documentation in end of life situations in the intensive care unit. Anasthesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie: AINS, 48(4), 216-223

In this article, secondary research methodology was chosen. The research offers insights of various anthropologists who reasoned that the choice of euthanasia differs depending on the cultures. They also contended that the role of bio-ethical issues was vital in the decision-making process of how practice of euthanasia will be carried out a particular culture. It had to do with the perception of legal liability which is linked to the decision-making capacity of the physician, reports proff. Thaddeus Pope (Health law and clinical bioethics expert), “The Pope also reported that in case of patients who are declared brain dead but still assisted with artificial life support system should permit the hospital to stop their medical treatment. In a case, when the terminally ill patient fails to communicate his/her own wishes, a proxy is entitled to make the decisions on behalf of the patient. The proxy is either pre-ordained by the patient in the ACDs (advanced care directives) and if the ACDs are not in place, the proxy is by default one of the patient’s family members.” Consequently, it led to the fact that the decision-making process may not be same for a community or a culture and the governments should come together and address and standardize the guidelines and law for euthanasia practices.

Randall F, Downie R. Assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia: Role contradictions for physicians. Clinical Medicine. 2010; 10(4):323–5

The authors of this article present a debatable view towards the concept of euthanasia. They state that euthanasia should not be conducted with the help of a physician but with the help of non-doctors. The logic behind their statement is their belief that it will help in avoiding unethical practices in the healthcare industry. By utilizing a quantitative analysis approach, it deduced that there is no significant difference between active and passive form of euthanasia. The crux of the data portrays that many people have a negative perspective on the ethical acceptance of the process of euthanasia. The physical assisted suicide or the passive is frowned upon but not as much active euthanasia, which is equivalated to committing suicide. The conclusion withdrawn from this article reinforces the statements of the previous authors pertaining to the individual’s right to die and the right to live. The authors persuade the readers to understand patient’s state of mind of his psychology. It also emphasizes and appreciates the role of euthanasia in decreasing the healthcare burden by increasing the opportunity for those who still exhibit a chance to survive rather than continuing the treatment of patients who have no hope to survive or are in vegetable or a brain-dead state.

Strinic, V. (2015). Arguments in Support and Against Euthanasia. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 1-12.

This article showcases the rights of each individual to make their own choice to live or die based on their circumstances. It argues that no other person can judge the amount of pain, emotional trauma or psychological stress an individual is going through. It furthers the argument that the ‘right to die’ and controlling how they wish do die are based on the foundation of respecting patient’s autonomy and decision-making capacity. The authors followed an exploratory methodology for reaching the conclusion. Most often, euthanasia is related to inability of the patient to undergo the suffering and bear the pain, therefore the authors of this article raise a strong and a valid point in legalizing euthanasia and to consider it of benefits to the patients and the carers. The patient who is suffering a terminally ill disease is not only suffering alone but the patient’s carers also suffer a with them. Euthanasia offers an opportunity for resilience and offers the solution to the patient to reduce their suffering rather than prolonging it. The authors believe that death is the only way to end the suffering of those patients, especially those who are in a vegetable state and to whom the doctors have given up on medically.

References for Euthanasia

Appelbaum, P. S. (2016). Physician-assisted death for patients with mental disorders—reasons for concern. JAMA psychiatry, 73(4), 325-326

Strinic, V. (2015). Arguments in Support and Against Euthanasia. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 1-12.

Randall F, Downie R. Assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia: Role contradictions for physicians. Clinical Medicine. 2010; 10(4):323–5

Friesenecker, B., Fruhwald, S., Hasibeder, W., Hörmann, C., Hoffmann, M. L., Krenn, C. G., ... & Roden, C. (2013). Definitions, decision-making and documentation in end of life situations in the intensive care unit. Anasthesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie: AINS, 48(4), 216-223 Kennedy, J. and Kennedy, M. (2018), "The Other Side of Euthanasia: A Practice Perspective from Australia", Grant, B., Drew, J. and Christensen, H. (Ed.) Applied Ethics in the Fractured State (Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations, Vol. (20), Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 55-66. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620180000020005.

Rand, J., Lancaster, E., Inwood, G., Cluderay, C., & Marston, L. (2018). Strategies to reduce the euthanasia of impounded dogs and cats used by councils in Victoria, Australia. Animals, 8(7), 100

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