Hcs 531 - Significant Health Care Event Paper

Significant Health Care Event Paper

HCS/531

Significant Health Care Event

In this essay, I will introduce the End of Life Option Act bill that was passed in California on March 30, 2016. History information about the act will provide and how this event may affect the historical evolution of health care. My personal beliefs and values of the End of Life Option Act will be discussed. My agreement with this significant event will be argued on why it was a good that the Senate passed the bill.

End of Life Option Act

The End of Life Option Act is a bill that was passed by the Senate known to be death with dignity. This act is known by physicians as an aid-in-dying, and it's now available to terminally ill adults who want to end their life. Determination on how much pain and suffering the patient is going through is assessed. Physiological testing is part of this act to provide the health and mental health personal the statues of the patients mental competent. This aid-in-dying is meant for only terminally ill adults who have a diagnosis of having six or less months to live are the ones who are can request to receive a prescription of the medication to speed their imminent death. This aid gives the patients “dignity, control, and peace of mind during their final days with their family and loved ones” ("Death With Dignity," 1993). Include page or paragraph number for citation of direct quotes. 

Before a patient is prescribed this aid she/he must have two physicians confirm that he/she has a terminally ill diagnoses and he/she has six of less months to live. The patient must also go through two different mental assessments and voluntariness of the request. The death of dignity is a process and is made of two waiting phases. First, a patient has to request the aid orally to his/her physician there is a 15 day waiting period. The second request is a written request plus any other documentation that needs to be filled out depending on which state of the four that authorize the terminally ill patient needs two individuals as witness one of the witnesses has to be someone with no relation to the patient. Then there are another 15 days waiting period. Once everything is complete, the physician has 48 hours to write the prescription for the patient. The patient can choose fill or not fill the prescription. The prescription can be felt in the pharmacy until the patient decides what is best for them. One-third of the patients who are terminally ill do not accelerate their death by using this prescription. California is the only state that requires patients to complete a Final Attestation Form, 48 hours before taking the medication because it is part of the Act. Citation for source of this information?

In the U.S. there were only three states in which physicians can prescribe the medication  Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and now there is the fourth state as of 2016 and its California. The death in dignity act is voluntary no one that is terminally ill is ever pressured or obligated to do it, and there is no list of physicians who prescribe the aid-in-dying medication.

Historical evolution of health care

My opinion about the aid-in-dying act and how it will affect the historical evolution of health care. The aid-in-dying should be an option to individuals who have a terminal illness in. This aid affects the evolution of health care because many of the individuals who do go through the whole process to get the medication do not do it. As technology and medication are advancing there can be a possibility in which the illness can be treated and cured. Individuals can get the prescription filled, and they either can pick it up to leave it that the pharmacy until he/she is ready, my thought about this that when an individual's make a decision some health care professional should be there. Just for the reason what if he/she doesn't take the medication in full and a bit is left and another family member takes it as well. God forbid that was ever to happen, but it is possible; people at times can make impulsive decisions. Then other family members can go to the physician who prescribed the medication.

Agreement with aid-in-dying act

My personal beliefs and values on this dignity of death act can seem a bit harsh, and cold-blooded to some people. I believe that if a patient is terminally ill, he/she should get more than just two assessments before making a decision. He/she must live life to the fullest before their disease worsens. People should be able to make decisions to take their life away because, in reality, they are the only ones who feel the pain they are going through. Some days might not be as bad as other but after so many years of going through pain and to know that your life is ending you should have the decision to end it before the pain get worse.

Conclusion

The death with dignity act has a process to get it prescribed, and it's never forced on any terminally ill patient. On the other hand, doctors are not supposed to mention anything to do with the aid-in-dying; patients are the ones who have to inform their doctor about it if they choose to go through the process. Death with dignity isn't for everyone that's the reason that individuals can still not go through with the medication if don't want to speed up their death.

Use double-spacing on this page. Present entries using a hanging indent. Only sources cited in the paper should be included on this page.

References

Death with Dignity. (1993). Retrieved from https://www.deathwithdignity.org/learn/access/

Death with Dignity in California Factsheet. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.deathwithdignity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2016_CA_Law_FactSheet_042616.pdf?x33858

Implementing Aid in Dying in California: Experiences from Other States. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.deathwithdignity.org/states/california/

Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2015). Delivering Health Care in America A System Approach (6th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.