Advanced Directive

Advanced Directive

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Advanced Directive

Question One

            Over the years, practitioners have sought to clarify the connection between depression and suicide while elucidating the sequence of events that led to the death of various patients. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by frequent experiences of sadness and loss of interest in activities that were once exciting. Different people die because of different causes (Saul, 2011). The condition is a psychiatric diagnosis often associated with suicide. Depressive symptoms tend to increase the propensity of different people, particularly adolescents, towards suicidal thoughts and behaviors. While the sadness and loneliness that most people experience are part of life, it is likely that they result in suicidal thoughts and attempts, hence the numerous deaths. Additionally, depression results from distorted viewpoints and opinions regarding life. For instance, people experiencing depressive symptoms are likely to concentrate on their failures thus increasing propensity towards suicidal thoughts. The need then arises for an easy way out of such constraints, which is through suicidal death. The loss of pleasure with a feeling that nothing is worth living for and a sense of helplessness make a person vulnerable to the presumption that the situation cannot be salvaged and immerse them into negative thoughts about death.

Question Two

            The right to die or euthanasia, as identified by health practitioners, has been one of the significant challenges that people from different disciplines seek to understand, accept, and accommodate. Though various arguments concerning this issue have been presented, I believe that a person has the right to determine his/her fate. Considering the moral, ethical as well as the clinical issues involved, people must be granted an opportunity to make a choice (Moody’s Controversy 7). Although it seems to defy the quality of life and undermine the role of the family and guardian, people should be allowed the right to life. Such a position is subject to a number of issues. For instance, the right to life should be granted to a person who is conscious of the effects and threats their decision poses to those associated with them. Secondly, the right to choose between life and death should be contingent on the reason for its pursuit. Terminally ill patients may be allowed to pursue assisted death in case the situation places increased strain on the family.

Question Three

            Advanced directives are legal documents that relay the health care instructions for a person’s wishes in case they become terminally ill or cannot speak. The five wishes employ simple language throughout to ensure that different people understand the views and wishes. The need for advanced directive arises in the case of terminal illness, comas, and dementia (Saul, 2011).

Wish 1: If I am unable to make my own healthcare decisions, I choose my parents to make these choices for me. My parents will be my health care agents in case both of these things happen: My health practitioner identifies that I am unable to make healthcare choices and another practitioner confirms this is true.

Wish 2: I believe that I deserve to be treated with utmost dignity. Therefore, as my caregiver, make sure that I am not in pain. Give me ample medication to relieve my pain and make sure that I am clean and warm.

Wish 3: My caregivers should do whatever is in their power to assist me. I wish to experience a smooth and soothing stay with my family as well as know the available options for hospice care.

Wish 4: I want people to treat me with kindness and hold my hand when they talk to me. I want to have pictures of my loved ones wherever I will be.

Wish 5: I want my friends and family to know that I loved them and that everything I did was for the sake of their happiness.

            My experience completing the advanced directive was quite challenging and informative. At first, it was scary, as the thought of terminal illness and death rendered me surprised on how people deal with such issues (Moody’s Controversy 7). Nonetheless, I believe that completing an advanced directive prepares a person as well as the family for the upcoming challenges.

            Based on the details provided, the post reveals the student’s confidence. Contrary to common belief, advanced directives are drafted with the fear that a person will have to leave his/her family and friends. All wishes issued by the student seemed realistic and achievable revealing the thought placed during the drafting process.

References

Moody’s Controversy 7. (2018). Retrieved from https://csulb.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=4af07d1b-6ae4-4099-8500-211e95221205.

Saul, P. (2011). Let’s talk about dying. Ted.com. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_saul_let_s_talk_about_dying?language=en.