Early Terminal Sedation: Humane or Cold-Blooded?
Jim Meyer
Social Ethics
4 March 2013
Is Early Terminal Sedation Humane or Cold-Blooded
Socrates, is accredited with having said, "Young men fear death; old men fear dying." Young men fear the loss of all they might have accomplished or what might have been. They may fear not having had time to make a name for themselves that would leave their foot print of existence ‘immortal’. Old men, having experienced what life had to offer them, fear the process of dying itself. They fear that their death may be dragged out in some despicable manner. In the modern age, where control and effectiveness are of the greatest virtues, people fear dying alone, in pain and being a burden on others. They fear the kind of dying process that modern medicine is capable of inducing. “Frank Foster, 60, sleeping under sedation to relieve pain and other effects of liver cancer, in the hospice unit at Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream on Long Island. Terminally ill patients, their families and their medical teams have the option of choosing palliative sedation to make dying less painful and to ease other effects of the transition, like shortness of breath, delirium or anxiety”
In this combative discussion over whether people have a right to die, the most ardent opponents on both sides can agree on one fact; the terminally ill must be made as tranquil and comfortable as possible. But now a provocative procedure is questioning that consensus.
“With modern medicine chemically induced sedation is a clinically important therapeutic intervention in the imminently dying patient. As the patient with irreversible illness nears the end of their life, symptoms accumulate (and)…may become unresponsive to standard medical interventions. The most common of these intractable symptoms are pain and psychological distress. Though sedation is a risk-laden method, it is sometimes essential and preserves the physician 's two obligations to benefit patients and to "do no harm". 1
Before considering the
Social Ethics
4 March 2013
Is Early Terminal Sedation Humane or Cold-Blooded
Socrates, is accredited with having said, "Young men fear death; old men fear dying." Young men fear the loss of all they might have accomplished or what might have been. They may fear not having had time to make a name for themselves that would leave their foot print of existence ‘immortal’. Old men, having experienced what life had to offer them, fear the process of dying itself. They fear that their death may be dragged out in some despicable manner. In the modern age, where control and effectiveness are of the greatest virtues, people fear dying alone, in pain and being a burden on others. They fear the kind of dying process that modern medicine is capable of inducing. “Frank Foster, 60, sleeping under sedation to relieve pain and other effects of liver cancer, in the hospice unit at Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream on Long Island. Terminally ill patients, their families and their medical teams have the option of choosing palliative sedation to make dying less painful and to ease other effects of the transition, like shortness of breath, delirium or anxiety”
In this combative discussion over whether people have a right to die, the most ardent opponents on both sides can agree on one fact; the terminally ill must be made as tranquil and comfortable as possible. But now a provocative procedure is questioning that consensus.
“With modern medicine chemically induced sedation is a clinically important therapeutic intervention in the imminently dying patient. As the patient with irreversible illness nears the end of their life, symptoms accumulate (and)…may become unresponsive to standard medical interventions. The most common of these intractable symptoms are pain and psychological distress. Though sedation is a risk-laden method, it is sometimes essential and preserves the physician 's two obligations to benefit patients and to "do no harm". 1
Before considering the
Cited: Blocher, Mark B. "Terminal Sedation Should Not Be Used in Palliative Care." Terminal Illness. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Ethics of Terminal Sedation as a Treatment for End-of-Life Suffering and Pain." Biblical Bioethics Advisor 7 (Summer 2003): 1-3. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. Hartocollis, Anemona. "Hard Choice for a Comfortable Death: Drug-Induced Sleep." New York Times: A.1. Dec 27 2009. New York Times; ProQuest Newsstand. Web. 4 Mar. 2013 . Ogilvie, Megan. "Legalize Assisted Death, Panel Says." Toronto Star Nov 16 2011. ProQuest Newsstand. Web. 4 Mar. 2013 . Quill, Timothy E., and Ira R. Byock. "Patients Should Be Allowed to Choose Terminal Sedation." Terminal Illness. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Responding to Intractable Terminal Suffering: The Role of Terminal Sedation and Voluntary Refusal of Food and Fluids." Annals of Internal Medicine 132 (2000): 408-414. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Mar. 2013