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Need response to below discusussion question 75-100 words with 1 scholary source

Samantha Quelland posted Feb 8, 2018 10:29 PM

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The Death with Dignity Act is a policy change my group and I decided to advocate for. This act is not implemented in every state, only various states allow this type of practice. The Death with Dignity Act allows healthcare providers to prescribe a lethal dose of medication that the terminally ill patient voluntarily takes (Westefeld, Doobay, Hill, Humphreys, Sandil, & Tallman, 2009). This act allows patients to die with dignity, and autonomy in their last moments of life. Patient are able to control the settings in which they pass and allow their loved ones to be at their side. Balch (2017) states people have argued for a long time that taking a lethal dose of a medication is similar to refusing life-sustaining healthcare. If patients can make their own decisions about the way they live, the type of care they receive or refuse, then it is only fair for them to decide if they want to die when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness. As nurse practitioners, it is our duty to advocate for patients even if we do not agree with their choices.

I would use Sister Callista Roy’s adaptation model to introduce the Death with Dignity Act. The adaptation model focuses on the ability of an individual to adapt to the environment (Punjani, 2013). Individuals are forced to adapt when going through health changes. When diagnosed with a terminal illness, individuals are forced to face death sooner than they were more than likely expecting to. The nurse practitioner should be with the patient, and try to manage the environment they are in. This will help facilitate the patient to adapt to changes they may be experiencing. The patient should have the right to choose how they want to spend the rest of their days while adapting to their health changes.

References

Balch, B. (2017). Death by lethal prescription: A right for older people–or their duty?.

Generations, 41(1), 42-46.

Punjani, N. S. (2013). Comparison and contrast of Orem’s self care theory and Roy’s

adaptation model. Journal on Nursing, 3(1), 1-5.

Westefeld, J., Doobay, A., Hill, J., Humphreys, C., Sandil, R., & Tallman, B. (2009). The

Oregon Death with Dignity Act: The right to live or the right to die?. Journal of Loss &

Trauma, 14(3), 161-169.