The Principle Of Respect For Patient Autonomy Essay

Over the past several decades, the principle of respect for patient autonomy has assumed a central place in health care. Indeed, respect for the self-determining decisions or interests of patients now is an underlying consideration for most professional codes of practice and also patient codes of rights (Cruess Cruess, 2008; MacLeod, Wilson Malpas, 2012). The dilemma now is that fear of losing autonomy or dignity during the dying process could lead some patients to request a hastened death. In a study investigating physician attitudes and behaviors when utilizing end-of-life decisions that hastened death, researchers found physicians who would submit to a patient’s request for an assisted death stated that respect for the patient’s autonomy was important in their decision-making (Fried, Stein, O’Sullivan, Brock, Novack, 1993). Physicians who would not comply with a patient’s request for an assisted death agreed that respect for autonomy was signific ant but instead citing other factors such as ethical and legal concerns (Fried et al., 1993). Expenditures Before the passing of the new law, gravely ill Canadians were forced to travel to Switzerland for a medically assisted death. The cost — $20,000 to $30,000 when accounting for flights and accommodation — puts this option out of reach for most Canadians. The service for preparing and monitoring the PAS can cost up to 4,000 Euros, and if they assume responsibility for having a doctor present, death certificate,Show MoreRelatedNursing Ethics : The Four Biomedical Principles Of Nursing1550 Words   |  7 Pagesbiomedical principles of nursing which refer to: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. 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