The most common understanding of legal principles includes a foundation in autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, along with rules such as confidentiality, privacy, and truthfulness. Likewise, the Hippocratic Oath has been the universally accepted pledge for medical professionals in the United States. Collectively, these ideologies are sufficient to generate and understand health care ethics.
However, despite these germinal principles, the problem of interpretation still exists. In this discussion, you will hear two different perspectives. Your job is to learn both perspectives, discuss them, and make a determination.
First, begin by familiarizing yourself with the following articles:
Emanuel, E. J. (2014). Why I hope to die at 75. Atlantic, 314(3), 74.
Faria Jr, M. A. (2015). Bioethics and why I hope to live beyond age 75 attaining wisdom!: A rebuttal to Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s 75 age limit. Surgical Neurology International, 6(1), 171175. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.152733
In the following discussion, address the following:
Support or refute the claim that a physician is morally obligated to defend euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) because they are obligated to respect the patient’s autonomy.
Discuss how the commitments promised in the Hippocratic Oath might conflict against a physician’s obligation to save lives.
How can you take this week’s discussion topic and apply it in the real world?
