Question

J. L. is an 80-year-old man living with his wife in a retirement community. He has always valued his independence, but recently he has been having trouble caring for himself. He is having difficulty walking; managing his medications for diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension; and starting to show signs of kidney failure. J. L.'s physician diagnoses depression after noting that he has lost interest in the things he used to enjoy. He refuses medication, and his symptoms have worsened, and he talks of suicide. Several months later, the physician informs J. L. that he will have to start dialysis because of his advancing kidney failure. This would require his going to the dialysis unit three times a week for 3 to 4 hours each session. After the second treatment, J. L. informs his physician that he refuses dialysis treatment and asks to be allowed to die.

Is J. L. competent enough to decide about the right to die?

How does his earlier diagnosis of depression affect how you would manage his decision?

Answer 1

death with dignity statutes allow mentally competent adult state residents who have a terminal illness with a confirmed prognosis of 6 or fewer months to live to voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication to hasten their inevitable ,imminent death.

Mr.J.L has a history of depression and according to his disease condition he is not imminent to death ,so his decision cannot meet the policy  guidlines of death with dignity  act

question 2

In his condition patient's mental ilness may be impairing patients judgement ,so he must be evaluated by psychologist because increased vigilance and systematic examination for depression is needed

depression is a mood disorder that can lead to suicidal thoughts .A person living with depression often times experience completely different thoughts before and after depressive episode