Discussion Board 4: End of Life Wishes

Please choose 3 questions from each part of this assignment and answer them below. After, please react to at least two of your peers responses, and discuss whether your agree with their responses or not.

Part I: After reviewing the lecture, please review the 5 Wishes document (5 Wishes). The 5 Wishes document is an example of an advanced directive. If you were to complete it, this document would provide legally binding information about your wishes, and about what you would like to have done in terms of your care if you were incapacitated and seriously ill.

In one paragraph, please answer the following questions:

1. Do you think that it would be a good idea for you, and for other people of your age, to complete an advanced directive of this type to describe your wishes about what you would want done if you were seriously ill and unable to communicate about your wishes?
2. Do you feel prepared to complete such a form? Why or why not?
3. Do you feel that you have enough information to make the decisions that are asked about on this form? If not, what kind of information do you think you would need, and how would you prefer to get it?
4. Do you think that all older adults should have to fill out this form? If so, at what age?
5. Do you think that older adults are more prepared than someone like you to fill out a form like this? Why or why not?

Part II: After reading all the assigned articles, please watch the following videos:

Brittany’s Choice: 29-year-old reignites debate about aid on dying.

This video presents the debate about aid on dying.

Assisted Suicide: Harriet Scott’s Story | Last Right Series

This video presents a story of assisted suicide.

In one paragraph, please answer the following questions:

1. Is physician-assisted suicide our right, or is it a crime?
2. Do physicians who assist those in ending their life uphold the Hippocratic Oath of ‘do no harm?’ Why or why not?
3. Should we legalize physician-assisted suicide at the national level or should the decision remain within each individual state?
4. If we were to legalize physician-assisted suicide, what do you believe are important ‘regulations’ or ‘rules’ that patients should have to follow before being allowed to receive physician-assisted suicide? Should we allow people like those with dementia, and have lost their ability to make decisions, to receive physician-assisted suicide?
5. What are some important takeaways from the videos that you watched?