Question

How is technology of a part of this ethical issue of dying/death? Identify ways or laws that may hinder or assist in reducing ethical issues surrounding death/dying.

Answer 1

Advancement in medical technology has no doubt proved to be a noon to the field of health, with the advancement and availability of technology the norms of natural death are changing ,now technology has a capacity to prolong life and postpone the time of death.

Eg ventilator,dialysis units, feeding tubes and a lot more. But with this there are lots of ethical issues involved.

Whether to resucitate or not,whether to discontinue the support , when to discontinue, who will take the decision ,if it's the patient then what if patient is not concious at the time of deciding it and a lot more ethical dilemmas are involved.

Ways that may assist in reducing ethical issues :

Autonomous decision making - Where in individual has in advance stated the preferences he wants during his end of life care. It's now the doctors duty to follow the preferences, but when doctors are faced with certain limitations then ethical issues arise again,as in preferences are set but in the last minute of life and death they are not possible to be followed ,then who will take the decision are few challenges being faced.

Role of the physician: The ethical issues can be resolved majority of the times in situations if the treating physician takes the patient as well as their caretakers into confidence that whatever is being done whether resucitate/ do not resucitate is for the best of the patient.

Detailed explanation of the situations and medical consequences,prognosis and weighing the situation will help all to take correct ethical decision.