Ethics and Medicine: Euthanasia

As I was reading this weeks blog assignment, “ethics and medicine”, I immediately knew I wanted to focus my blog on euthanasia.  Over this summer I saw a movie called “You don’t know Jack”.  This movie was about the unethical practice and usage of euthanasia performed Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also known as “Doctor Death”.  He assisted nearly 130 people to commit suicide.  This form of euthanasia was considered the most extreme example in recent history.   Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree homicide in Michigan in 1998 after demonstrating active euthanasia on the TV news show, 60 Minutes to try to prove his point on live television to America.  His point was that by performing these euthanasia cases it is helping the patients be at peace after long suffering throughout their lives.  As for euthanasia, this is the 'putting to sleep' or the withdrawal of medical care to a dying patient by someone else, much in the same way an animal is put down by a vet. According to the Issues Against Euthanasia  this  is always wrong, as it removes the decision from the patient, and places the unenviable decision onto the doctor who then has to 'play God'.   It also revealed it is really unfair to both parties in the matter.  In my opinion, this article presented the most compelling arguments on the matter of euthanasia.  In some countries euthanasia is accepted as standard medical practice. Legal regulations assign this to the medical profession. In such nations, the aim of euthanasia is to alleviate the suffering of patients from diseases known to be incurable by the methods known in that culture.  According to this specific article on Euthanasia, it defined as the act and ability to painlessly kill someone who is suffering.  These arguments both present good points.  Overall I would say that i would be more on the against side of euthanasia, agreeing with the article of Issues Against Euthanasia because i think death is a natural thing and should not be forced.  I think i would have a different opinions varying from different situations of euthanasia.  

Response to Camille's "Save the Whales, Save the Poop" blog

At first I was very indecisive as to which blog I was wanting to write a response to but I quickly decided that I wanted to find an interesting blog that I could have fun commenting and responding to.  With this in mind, I was searching for this blog and came across one that appealed to me: our TA, Camille’s, blog.  Her blog "Save the Whales, Save the Poop" at first glace comes off as kind of grotesque and maybe even a little humorous but once you read further you realize there is a deeper, more serious, and more significant topic being discussed.  I really liked reading about the effects whales have on the ocean ecology, and how their feces are important to the well being of the ocean.  While these animals have been proven to be important living and dead, there is a chance that these animals could be in danger along with the other animals and aspects of the ocean whales positively affect.  This is because of Whale hunting.  Whale hunting is malicious and is effecting, and will continue to affect, the dynamics of the ocean until it is stopped.  One of these dynamics being: the nitrogen level of the ocean.  Whales give off nitrogen that is exerted into the ocean, thousands of tons a year, if whales are slowing dying out, as is the amount of nitrogen.  Personally, I am an animal lover and enjoy learning about the marvelous and astounding things that animals do that go unnoticed.  So Camille’s blog about whales and how their feces are truly needed in our oceans was interesting to read about and I immediately knew it was the perfect blog for a response!

Technorati Search

            The blog Super Weeds: Another Reason Why Organic Farming is the Solution (http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/super-weeds-another-reason-why-organic/#ixzz13hIbI79f) by Nicole Wong, states many points about the effects of the use of pesticides and weed killer in conventional farming.  This blog about the effects of the use of weed killers in conventional farming was published on June 21, 2010.  This blog has similar statements to my informative paper about organic foods.  Nicole Wong has been creating blog posts just about every other day or so since May 5^th 2010, the date of her first blog.  Nicole’s blogs usually have a small picture at the beginning of the blog that relates to the topic of that specific blog.  She normally does not incorporate many outside information from the media and rarely includes hyperlinks in her blogs.  Personally, I think this is because Nicole is simply passionate about writing and current events and never had a job where she could express her opinions and beliefs through her writing.  The ORGANIC FARMING (Ecosensorium) (http://desertification.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/organic-farming-ecosensorium/) blog post, written by William Van Cotthem, specifically relates to my informative research paper on organic farming.  This blog was recently written on October 25, 2010.  Van Cotthem’s blog and my paper have a similar characteristic, they both describe the organic farming method and convey the initial views on the reasons this method came about.  But the main difference between the two is that Van Cotthem tends to focus more on the benefits of organic farming with respect to cost. Whereas my paper focuses on the organic farming benefits with respect to preserving the environment and protecting the health of the people consuming the products being grown.   

Demonstration Speech Evaluation

My demonstration speech was How to Make a 7 Layer Dip.  This speech was presented on Wednesday, October 2.  I watched my presentation, it was weird seeing myself in video form but overall I think I did a good job.  Although, after watching my speech I noticed that there were some areas that could be improved.  I think I could have used more talking with my body by using my arms to embrace the audience and make them feel more involved.  Also I think I could have been a little more repetitive with the steps by saying them more and really getting the major points across.  I did a good job explaining the process but repeating it more would have made a difference.  Another area where I could have done something different to improve the presentation would have been to show multiple pictures of the finished product, possibly on PowerPoint so the audience could have better seen more of what a true 7 layer dip looks like.  But I thought the visual aids that I brought, all ingredients and materials needed, really helped further explain and visually show exactly what the process entails.  I did a good job with my overall body language.  I think I showed interest in my presentation and by doing so I was able to grasp the audiences’ attention in a good way.  Also the tone of my voice was loud enough to grab the attention of the audience but not too loud where it becomes annoying.  I don’t mind talking in front of people but its not my favorite thing and by doing it more I will get more comfortable and get better at public speaking.  

Organs for Sale?

Should individuals have the right to sell his or her organs?  Personally I don’t think that they should be able to.  I think that putting organs on the free market could cause chaos among the people.  Sure there may be some benefits but in reality, it would probably just result in only the wealthy people getting access to these organs and the poor people selling them.  This concept is not fair for the poorer people who cannot afford to outbid others for a needed body part.  Also, I don’t think people should be bought and sold, that whole idea kind of freaks me out.  After reading Martin Wilkinson’s news editorial Organs for Sale, I agree with certain opinions that Wilkinson expresses.  This editorial did not necessarily change my opinion as a whole on the matter, but I can relate where he comes from with respect to most of his opinions.  I agree with the fact that once money is involved more people will be willing to donate, giving more people a chance for a transplant.   Also I agree with his views on the altruistic issue.  I think what drives a lot of people to donate organs is the self satisfaction of doing a selfless deed.  By placing a price tag on the organ they are "donating" does not make the situation the same, some could say it actually violates the whole idea.  Wilkinson states that, it is the person’s choice what they do with their body.  Having stated that, whether I agree or disagree on this matter is irrelevant.  There would be a bigger problem in America if organ donation were legalized based on this statement, it would be the issue of abortion.  If the sale of organs were legalized, the next problem to deal with would be, why isn't abortion legalized?   This would cause a huge uproar!   

Obstacles in writing/reading TILOHL

Just by reading the synopsis of TILOHL, I think it is very important for a story like Henrietta Lacks' to be acknowledged and heard by the public.   The story itself reveals hidden key components for the incredible discoveries in medicine that have taken place over numerous decades and decades to come.  A story of this magnitude, one that was able to transform modern medicine, should most definitely be recognized in the eye of the public.  Rebecca Skloot brings up questionable research tactics used by doctors in our country.  I think it is important for the public to be aware of these tactics and know that they may be giving more than just money in exchange for doctor’s services.   The fact that consent by the patient is not required in order to take specimens of their biological material is certainly something that should not go unnoticed.   This story brings up many debatable issues that should be brought to the public's attention.  I think Rebecca Skloot faced many challenges while writing this book.  Skloot probably struggled with finding the necessary information over the many decades of research that took place.  As for more of a moral struggle, I think that Skloot had to overcome the fact that Henrietta’s family, rather poor, had not scene any of the profits of Henrietta’s “immortality”.   Skloot, knowing this, and knowing that Henrietta’s family had no knowledge about her “immortality” until nearly twenty years later must have been hard.   As I read this book I anticipate on struggling with the role the doctor’s played, how they took Henrietta’s biological material without asking.  This is something I don’t totally agree with.  I don’t think its right for a doctor, someone who is implied to be trusted, to be so sneaky and secretive.  The struggles that Henrietta Lacks’ family had to face when they got news of the "jack pot" discovery, being rather poor, is an experience that most struggling Americans could not imagine.  Also another matter that will be tough to read about will be the struggles of Henrietta’s family and the emotions that are unraveled as they go through such an emotional journey.