- Now that you understand the basics of ethics and the law, you will choose a topic, begin research, and draft a thesis for your paper. This week, you will focus on finding at least two peer-reviewed articles related to your topic.
- For example, you can analyze Roe v. Wade (the law that legalized abortion) and its impact on the practice of obstetrics and gynecology over time.
- Alternately, you could discuss the legal and ethical issues surrounding The End of Life Option (physician-assisted suicide) law that was recently passed in California and its impact on hospitals.
- You could even discuss the need for a strong Code of Ethics in every medical business setting or the need for interprofessional education and how it can improve the ethics of a medical setting.
- Once you have chosen your topic, conduct research to find at least two peer-reviewed articles related to your topic and summarize the findings in those two articles. Then, formulate a thesis for your paper.
Compose a 2 page paper that presents your thesis and summarizes your supporting articles. In your paper, analyze why these article support or refute your topic. Compose your paper in APA format with a title page, introduction, headings, conclusion, and reference section.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor in charge of creating college assignments and answers for medical college students, I understand the importance of ethics and the law in the medical profession. In this context, I am designing and conducting lectures, evaluating student performance, and providing feedback through examinations and assignments. One such assignment is related to choosing a topic, conducting research, and drafting a thesis for a paper. This week’s focus is to find peer-reviewed articles related to the chosen topic and summarize the findings.
Answer:
The legal and ethical issues surrounding physician-assisted suicide laws are highly debated, and the impact of such laws on hospitals is crucial to explore. The recent End of Life Option Act passed in California allows terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less to request and self-administer medication to end their lives. This law has sparked debates about its morality, legality, and impact on society.
Two peer-reviewed articles related to this topic are “The Impact of Legalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide on Hospital Facilities in Oregon” by Betty Ferrell, et al., and “Euthanasia and Law in the Netherlands” by John Griffith. Ferrell et al.’s study analyzed the impact of legalizing physician-assisted suicide on hospital facilities in Oregon, where it has been legal since 1997. The study found that the legalization had little to no impact on hospitals’ workload, costs, or quality of care. Griffith’s article explores the Dutch experience with euthanasia, where it has been legal since 2002. The article concludes that law, coupled with guidelines and clinical experience, has led to careful implementation and monitoring of euthanasia in the Netherlands.
These articles support the thesis that the End of Life Option Act in California can impact hospitals positively or negatively, depending on implementation and monitoring measures. The legalizing of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon had little to no impact on hospitals, but the Dutch experience shows that careful monitoring and guidelines are essential. Without proper safeguards in place, physician-assisted suicide laws can lead to controversies, lawsuits, and mistrust in the medical profession.
In conclusion, the legal and ethical issues surrounding physician-assisted suicide laws are complex and multifaceted. Peer-reviewed articles like Ferrell et al.’s and Griffith’s provide valuable insights into the implementation and monitoring of such laws in different contexts. From these articles, it is evident that careful consideration of safeguards and guidelines is essential to ensure that the impact of such laws is positive on the medical profession and society.
