Psychological And Emotional Effects Of Terminal Illness example essay topic

When a person is dying from a particular disease, it is terminal illness. Some individuals have terminal illness that is there all the time; however, it does not stop these people doing things that they want to do. Terminal illnesses of effects of an illness can possibly make people to feel ill. Some terminal illnesses have effects, which can slowly get worse and possibly might result into severe disability or even death. In some cases, people who have terminal illness and suffer from severe disabilities do not have any desire to continue life, because it is pointless and full of pain. There are several effects of terminal illness.

Terminal illness can result into euthanasia, which is in my opinion one of the main effects, because it is controversial issue in our society. Euthanasia is a rationally considered plan to end a life because of pain and suffering due to a terminal illness. There are two types of euthanasia: passive euthanasia and voluntary active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is simply ending artificial life support in order to prolong life. By some, it is considered good medical practice, and is usually performed on terminally ill patients. Terminally ill patients are those who cannot continue to live without medical technology assisting them, will never be conscious, coherent, due to brain damage, or other causes, ever again.

There are three ways that this procedure is performed. One is a living will. This is where a person of sound mind and body prepares a legal document, usually before they fall ill, saying that they do not want any extraordinary life saving techniques performed during cardiac failure. The second is where a person hands over all their medical decisions to a person to whom they have discussed all their wishes about how far they wish the doctor to go before stopping medical treatment. The final way is usually the most difficult.

It is when a patient has lost conciseness and will never regain it. Then it is up to the family if they want further medical treatment or wish to let nature take its course. Most feel the living will is the best course of action due to the fact it clearly states patients wishes in a legally binding document. Lack of belief and constant depression a terminally ill person suffers from negatively influence possible healing. If a person is even morally strong, terminal illness still does not allow enjoying last days of life and therefore it brings negative emotions. Terminal patients often express sadness related to not being alive for future events especially when these events are related to their child or children. (web) Nevertheless, we should not forget that in vital and crucial moments in lives, people do not easily loose their hope for a miracle, which in some cases happens.

There are psychological and emotional effects of terminal illness that affect people who surround a terminally ill person. Besides, terminally ill person is also a financial burden for the family. Terminal illness can cause madness, lack of courage, discomfort, and depression, which result into serious psychological trauma people suffer from, because of the disease of family member or a close friend. Terminally ill person can have increased feelings of self worth and acceptance, and had a greater capacity for intimate contact. (web) Many people often do not know what to say to someone who is chronically ill or to the person who is caring for them.

They may be embarrassed or scared that they will upset them or themselves by talking about it. This may make them avoid the ill person or person who takes care of a patient and act differently towards them. Terminal illness in the vast majority of cases causes death and people can do nothing about it. Nevertheless, people do not loose hope that terminally ill person who is close to them somehow will be cured, which creates many problems to people who surround a terminally ill patient.

If a person is close to someone who will die soon it is possible to experience psychological trauma because of constant thinking of death and life. Terminal illness and its effects are of a great importance to society, as an example euthanasia that has become a controversial issue. Leon R. Kass (p. 139) in his article about death says, The deaths we most admire are those of people who, knowing that they are dying, face the fact frontally and act accordingly. They set their affairs in order; they arrange what could be final meetings with their loved ones, and yet, with strength of soul and a small reservoir of hope, they continue to live and work and love as much as they can for as long as they can. Sources: Kass, Leon R. A Time to Be Born and a Time to Die: The Ethics of Choice.

New York: Kogan Barry, 1991 web web web.