Fight Against Terminal Pain example essay topic

Preparing for Death A lack of preparation for our deaths is a serious problem whether it is because we don't know the exact time or just don't want to face death. In a article in time magazine by John Cloud he writes "We will spend more time getting ready for two weeks away from work than we will for our last two weeks on earth" (Cloud, 2000, p. 60). We should prepare for our deaths to show our wishes concerning treatment and life support as well as other aspects. We should make choices while we are still well, so that we are treated properly before we die. Frank Ostaceski said "we have more preparation for how to operate our VCRs than we do for how we die" (Cloud, 2000, p. 60). In today's society we all try to prolong life as long as possible.

Technology is finding new ways that we can stay healthier and lead productive lives longer. Governor Lamm said "we should be careful in terms of our technological miracles that we don't impose life on people who, in fact, are suffering beyond our ability to help" (Collins, 1991, p. 540). That is the real issue at hand; are we in fact over stepping our boundaries by keeping people alive who are maybe beyond our help. "Machines can extend the length but not always the quality of life" (Cloud, 2000, p. 62). As doctors, they need to think about the well being of the patient and if any methods could really help the situation.

It is hard to let someone that is close to us die, but we need to look beyond the fact that you will miss them. You need to think about what is best for the patient and if they are terminal; prolonging their life is not the best thing. It is important to prepare for our own death and make our wishes known. A living will is one way of doing that. A living will is a document explains to your doctor what types of treatment you want if you become terminally ill. A living will only works when you are terminal, it does not come into effect if you are in an accident and need emergency treatment.

Some people may feel that a living will is not for them, when in fact everyone should have a living will. Most people assume that a living will means that they are refusing treatment, which is not true. A living will just explains your wishes. A living will is very important to insure that when a patient can not express their own wishes, their wishes will be carried out. Another aspect of being terminal is pain management. Terminal illness is accompanied by pain.

Common methods of relieving pain such as morphine and codeine are not always effective. These drugs often make the patients unresponsive and distant. Until recently the hospitals have not required doctors to learn alternative ways of relieving pain. Many doctors are scared of getting the patients addicted to the more powerful pain medication or even kill them. If the patients are terminal why does it matter if they get addicted to the medication as along as they are not in pain. One option to traditional medication is contacting a pain specialist.

There is a drug called Fentanyl that has been proven to be affective in the fight against terminal pain and still leave the patient coherent (Newman). Hospice care is an organization that cares for terminal patients in their last days. Hospice care is a team-oriented approach to medical care. My Grandfather died from pancreatic cancer. Before he died he had hospice care. Hospice came in and allowed him to stay at home and to be with his loved ones.

Hospice focuses "on caring, not curing" (Hospice). Hospice offers an array of services that can aid the patient and the family. They offer counseling, homemaker services, medical equipment, and other necessities for a patient and their families to remain as comfortable as possible. Dying is the only thing in our lives that is certain and we should prepare for it. We do not need to dwell upon it but we need to have our lives in order.

Having our lives in order might include a living will, so that our last wishes will be known. Let your family know if you would rather be at home and if you want hospice care. You could also ask for alternative methods for controlling your pain. "We die only once-and for so long" (Cloud, 2000, p. 60)! There is no reason for not planning for death because we have our whole life to figure out how we want to be treated. Death is an unavoidable circumstance that we can't predict.

Matthew E. Conolly wrote "From the moment of our conception, each of us is engaged in a personal battle that we must fight alone, a battle whose final outcome is never in any doubt, for, naked, and all too often alone, sooner or later we all must die" (Conolly, 1991, p. 567). So we need to be prepared for death before it occurs. How would you like to be treated in your last moments on earth?

Bibliography

Cloud, J. (2000) A Kinder Gentler Death.
Time. 60-67. Collins, E.R. (1991) The Right to Choose Life or Death.
Controversies. New York, NY. Macmillan. 539-552. Conolly, M.E. (1991) Euthanasia is not the Answer.