Sustain Physical Life through Technology - Essay Example

Pro-side-Seven facts to support the Pro side of the debate

• The trend in the aging population exhibits incidents where their death may be accounted for several clinical conditions, where common cases are said to be chronic in status; yet, most conditions cannot be exactly traced in a direct terminal sense (Kaufman, 2009).
• The medical team, doctor, rs, and nurses, may appear to be competently confident in performing their duties, but the reality reveals otherwise. Medical practitioners are not assured by their comprehensive education and experience that their prognostic capabilities are always accurate, as professional predictions for patient survival, the extent of physiological functions, and the quality of existence in critically ill patients can be subjected to erroneous processes. In worse scenarios, records show that nurses, compared to medical practitioners, further demonstrate an attitude of pessimism in clinical areas for predicting patient outcomes, especially when worsening medical conditions in ICU is apparent (McDermid and Bagshaw, 2009).
“Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law”. Article 6.1 of the international covenant on civil and political rights.
• Recently, because of technology, it has become apparent that early support in an intensive care environment can improve patient outcomes. Life support technology has advanced to the point that physicians can prolong life (and postpone death) in circumstances not previously possible.
III. Supporting comments

a. Pro-side-Supporting comments for the Pro side of the debate
• The tenacious hope of recuperation is often present, even in patients who had been constantly re-admitted to clinical institutions, where both patients and families cling to the remaining time allotted in extending the patient’s life, despite the clinical suffering in doing so.

IV. Questions to be answered in the final presentation
a. Pro side
• How does one determine that the life of a patient is no longer sufficiently precious to take all actions within his or her power to prolong that life?
• In a country that supposedly boasts the best health care in the world, why do patients still suffer undesirable, “bad,” technology-driven deaths?
• How are rapidly changing healthcare science and technology affecting the nature of the discussion regarding prolonging life”
• Can survival and outcome be predicted?
• Are withdrawing and withholding therapies always morally equivalent?
• How do we withdraw or withhold life-sustaining therapy? Read More