Death With Dignity Policy Analysis

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How does the implementation of Death with Dignity policy increase patient autonomy and quality of care and what will it mean for our practitioners? The healthcare industry is preparing for many changes that have the potential to affect the industry on a large scale. While preparing for all of the current changes, the industry is also preparing itself to face the baby boomer generation, which will increase the number of society member who will be utilizing healthcare services. Healthcare, as an industry is facing a key time to make changes in order to protect its’ assets and the care given to those who utilizes our services. Funding is at a low, and resources have the potential to become scarce. Some patients are arguing that resources …show more content…

This act would mirror the legislation regarding death with dignity in Oregon, and the requirements set by the legislation. The CARE Act would allow for terminally ill patients who meet certain criteria to request medication that will end his/her life in a dignified and humane manner that is completely up to the discretion of the patient. The requirements would be that the patient has to be as resident of the state of Pennsylvania, the request must come from the patient themselves on a form that would be standardized by the statute, the request must be witnessed by two individuals, one of the individuals being someone who is not related to the patient making the request and has absolutely no financial stake in the process. The patient making the request must be at least 18 years of age, and must be deemed competent by all health officials providing treatment. The next requirement would be that witnesses must agree that the patient is of sound mind at the point of signing, and the patient’s physician must attest to the fact that the patients illness is terminal with less than six months projected to live, there is no hope of recovery, and all options have been exhausted in terms of palliative or comfort care. A second physician must then verify the request, and a patient …show more content…

Financially, there are implications but they are not towards the organization. Many patients cite many different reasons for choosing to follow through with the Death with Dignity process, one of the reasons being the financial implications of receiving treatment that has no hope of working, only prolonging the suffering. Death with dignity has the ability to alleviate some financial burden from health agents as they are not continuing expensive care and resources on patients who no longer wish to receive them. The resources can be used on someone who may truly benefit. Also, political implications are a factor as well. Because there is not current legislation in Pennsylvania at the moment, it is forming a political platform for politicians to take hold of. As previously stated, state representative Mark Rozzi, is currently taking hold of this platform, and suggested a bill to the House of Representatives for death with dignity laws in Pennsylvania. Because politician’s reach is so large, society members are calling upon them to be a voice for change. There are also many stakeholders that would be affected by Death with Dignity legislation, making the policies potential impact very large. The first being the

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