Killing vs Letting Die

In a paper entitled â€Å"Why Does Removing Machines Count as Passive Euthanasia?† Dr. Patrick D. Hopkins argues that â€Å"the removal of a machine which substitutes for a failed vital organ is equivalent to removing that life-sustaining organ.†( Killing 2004 p. 1). In this scenario, removing a breathing machine such as BiPap that essentially breathes for the patient when they are unable to breathe for themselves, would be tantamount to removing the patient’s lung in order to stop him from breathing. The ground becomes a little shaky if we rely on this theory; the patient or surrogate making decisions for the patient, when confronted with a terminally ill medical situation,   asks that all â€Å"life-support† machines and feeding tubes be removed. Is the doctor or nurse who performs this act of mercy â€Å"killing† the patient, or just removing artificial means of life and â€Å"letting die?†Ã‚   Unlike Dr. Hopkins, I don’t feel tha t â€Å"pulling the plug,† or ceasing life support machines is equal in any way to cutting out a vital organ. I believe â€Å"letting die† is a morally responsible act, while actively â€Å"killing† is quite another matter.Many people make a distinction between passive euthanasia and active euthanasia.   While the AMA maintains that people have a â€Å"right to die with dignity,† and believe it â€Å"morally permissible,† for a physician to allow the death of a person who is suffering unmercifully and has an incurable disease, they are unwilling to â€Å"countenance active euthanasia for a person who is in similar straits, but who has the misfortune not to be suffering from an illness that will result in a speedy death.† (Tooley 2006 p. 1).   Therefore, while a patient might have a terminal illness and be in extreme pain, if the illness is not likely to kill them fairly quickly, euthanasia is not an option, rather they are required to su ffer for a lengthy period of time before receiving assistance in ending their lives.This becomes a very touchy moral issue, with passionate arguments on both sides.   The motives of a person who intentionally kills someone is surely more evil than the motives of a person who lets someone die, most especially if the motives for letting that person die are purely non-selfish and a result of empathy for the person’s pain.   Watching a loved one die slowly and painfully is a hardship on those who love them as well as the person themselves. When a beloved member of your family is begging you to â€Å"let them go,† how can it be morally wrong to grant that wish?In the realm of withholding treatment versus withdrawing treatment, the consensus seems to be that if withholding treatment can be justified, then withdrawing it can be justified by the same criteria. (Jennings 2001 p. 2).   The reality is that while administering treatment that may, in fact, have to be later wi thdrawn buys time in the sense that the physician is able come to a solid prognosis of the patient’s chances for survival, many ethicists feel that it is â€Å"easier to justify not starting treatment.†Ã‚   (Jennings 2001 p. 2).   So, while administering treatment may allow the doctor, patient and family members time to accept the reality of the imminent death of a loved one, doctors are hesitant to administer treatment that they are fairly certain will have to be withdrawn somewhere down the line, and find it easier to let nature take it’s course in the first place.Life sustaining treatments are considered to be: mechanical ventilation, dialysis, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, antibiotics, transfusions, nutrition and hydration.   While most of us are relatively â€Å"okay† with the idea of withdrawing (or not administering in the first place) the mechanical ventilation, dialysis, or performing CPR, we are less okay with the idea of removing a feeding tube and iv’s or not administering antibiotics.We equate these acts in some sense as â€Å"starving† our loved one to death, or making them do without water, and we see this more as torture than assisting an inevitable death. The fact is that dehydration can produce a sedative effect on the brain, making the dying process more tolerable, so essentially it is an issue in our minds rather than one based on reality.   Technically it is all the same; if a person is unable to feed themselves in the traditional way, or drink a glass of water, then feeding tubes and IV’s are artificial means of keeping a person alive. However, if we were to disallow these basic medical care issues, many, many, people who go on to live happy, productive lives, would surely die.The question becomes to what degree are we good with measures to sustain life? Many times â€Å"comfort measures† are determined to be the most solid course, and, in general, family members are much more agreeable to allowing a loved one to die provided they are still administered IV’s, feeding tubes and pain medication.Extraordinary measures may in some cases be determined by the level of technological complexity, yet this can be misleading. â€Å"Certain procedures for providing artificial nutrition and hydration, for example, are technologically rather complex, whereas administering chemotherapy is not.†Ã‚   (Policy 2006 p. 3).   Therefore, we cannot say that administering chemotherapy is a rather simple procedure, therefore only an â€Å"ordinary† means of treatment while the complex artificial nutrition system must then be â€Å"extraordinary.†Ã‚   There must, therefore, be an assessment of the â€Å"benefits and burdens for the patient that each procedure or treatment provides.† (Policy 2006 p. 3).CPR is generally used to restore breathing capabilities to someone whose breathing has been interrupted for whatever reason. Because resuscitati on has no value in the management of terminal diseases, but is rather intended to return a person in a health crisis to a normal healthy state, CPR, while certainly an extraordinary, live-saving measure, is not a factor in a terminally ill patient. Mechanical ventilation may be ethically removed from a terminally ill patient at their request, just as blood transfusions may be refused by the patient who is terminally ill.Tony Bland was a victim of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster when football fans were crushed and 95 people died.   Tony survived but was in a coma that doctors believed he would never emerge from. (Tony Bland 2006 p. 1).   Tony could breathe on his own and all his vital organs functioned normally on his own. He could digest food but could not feed himself, so was put on feeding tubes.Because we don’t consider food and water â€Å"medicine,† but rather basic necessities to stay alive, the feeding tube for Tony Bland could not be considered â€Å"treatm ent,† and because Mr. Bland was not actually dying at the time, his food and fluids would have had to be withdrawn in order for him to die. The courts ordered, after four years of Mr. Bland being in a â€Å"permanent vegetative state,† that the fluids and feeding tubes be removed, and he be allowed to die, a process that took nearly two weeks as well as causing the suffering of his family.   (Tony Bland 2006 p. 2).The issue of medical euthanasia is one that will be debated passionately for many years to come, with ethical arguments on both sides.Works CitedJennings, Bruce (February 2001). Medical Ethics and Clinical Practice. Retrieved onMay 29, 2006 from:http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1071269Killing vs. Letting Die (June 13, 2004). Should Removal of Mechanical Life SupportMachine at the Request of a Patient be Considered Killing or Letting the PatientDie? Retrieved May 30, 2006 from:http://www.hsc.usc.edu/~mbernste/ethics.killingvs.lettingdie.h tmlPolicy (2006). Policy on Forgoing Life Sustaining or Death-Prolonging Therapy.Retrieved on May 30, 2006 from:http://www.clevelandclinic.org/bioethics/policies/policyonlifesustaining/ccfcode.htmlTony Bland. (2006). Tony Bland and PVS – Euthanasia. Retrieved June 1, 2006 from:http://www.spucscotland.org/education/students/euthanasia/tonyblandpvs.html.Tooley, Michael (2006). An Irrevelant Consideration: Killing versus Letting Die.Retrieved May 30, 2006 from:http://www.sunysuffolk.edu/pecorip/SCCCWEB/ETEXTS/DeathandDylingTEXT/Tooley

Databases Is a Structured Collection of Data Essay

According to Business Link â€Å"The database is one of the cornerstones of information technology, and its ability to organize, process and manage information in a structured and controlled manner is key to many aspects of modern business efficiencies.† This paper will define database uses, advantages, and disadvantages as well as recommended changes to an Internet database I currently use. The definition of a database is a structured collection of data or records stored on a computer system. The definition of a database management system (DBMS) is â€Å"a collection of programs that enables you to store, modify, and extract information from a database† (Webopedia, 2011). â€Å"Databases are used just about everywhere including banks, retail, websites, and warehouses. Banks use databases to keep track of customer accounts, balances, and deposits. Retail stores can use databases to store prices, customer information, sales information, and quantity on hand. Websites use databases to store content, customer login information, and preferences and may store saved user input. Warehouses use databases to manage inventory levels.† Another example would include a bookseller, such as Amazon.com. Amazon.coms database would include title, author, ISBN, product information, reviews, quantity, and price to name few. Databases are used anywhere that data needs to be stored and easily retrieved. The filing cabinet has been replaced by databases. Advantages of using a DBMS are, reducing the amount of time managing data, the ability to analyze data in various ways, promoting a disciplined approach to data management, and improving the quality and consistency of information. One disadvantage is the cost because more than likely outside help will need to be employed to develop the DBMS, which can become very expensive. Another disadvantage is time, developing a database system is very time-consuming because numerous steps are involved. Different types of DBMSs are available from several vendors and the services offered can vary widely. Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle from Oracle  Corporation are two examples of DBMSs. In its most basic form, they both store information with the use of tables. Both use queries to sort, search, and analyze data. They use a backup system to save all information in case of a crash of the system. They are web-based so users can access them from anywhere. They could be tailored to meet business needs. They allow multiple users to access and update information while providing security from unauthorized users. Users are granted access to certain features with the use of passwords and permissions. They both offer reporting capabilities. A number of differences exist between these two DBMSs, the first is the cost, Oracle costs are extremely expensive compared to Microsoft SQL Server. Pricing for Oracle is over 100K, whereas Microsoft SQL Server can be purchased for a couple of thousand. Microsoft SQL Server is used for small-medium sizes companies while Oracle can be used for very large companies. Microsoft SQL can support a couple 1000 users while Oracle can support as little as 10 users, upwards to hundreds of thousands users. Microsoft SQL Server is slower over networks compared to Oracle. Microsoft SQL Server is easier to learn and more user friendly. Microsoft SQL Server has a large community for support, while Oracle has very little in comparison. I have been a collector of Cal Ripken Jr. baseball cards for many years, and I have amassed a collection of close to 2000 different Cal Ripken Jr. baseball cards With this many cards it is hard to keep track of what cards I currently own and their value. I needed a database program where I could have access to my collection in one place. I did some research and found Beckett.com offered a database software program called Beckett Collector Connection. Beckett is an industry leader concerning the collection of sport cards. Anyone who is a serious sport cards card collector knows Beckett is the place to go when wanting to know the value of one’s collection. Beckett Collector Connection has essentially taken all their price guides, put them in a database, and made them available online. It only cost $20 for the initial software and it is an additional $4.95 a month to get the latest sets and prices downloaded from their website. A  collector can list all their cards with ease using Beckett’s learning wizard. Each card or record shows year, set name, card number, and card name. Other columns provide a place where a collector can list the condition and quantity of a specific card they own. A number of the cards include a picture ensuring the collector has listed the right card. A collector can print one of six different reports, or use the report generator to create a custom report. A collector has the option of using Beckett’s auction tools, to create, track, and follow up on multiple Internet auctions based on a collector’s inventory. I have been using this program for quite some time and have found it very beneficial but at the same time, I have noticed ways the database can be improved. For one downloading the newest prices can be very time- consuming, even though I use DSL it can still take an hour. Another improvement I want is to the ability to list older sets, while they do list some older sets many older sets are not listed and prices are missing as well. Last, I would like to have Beckett offer to track your auctions listing through multiple auction platforms, such as eBay instead of just their own auction platform. In conclusion, one can determine that gathering, storing, processing of information using a database gives a company a distinct advantage. Developing a DBMSs is crucial to a company’s productivity, time management and vital to its success. References Business Link. Benefits of Databases. Retrieved from http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1075422967 Graham, AJ. How Are Databases Used In The Real World? eHow.com. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5447556_databases-used-real-world.html Webopedia. (2011). Database Management System. Retrieved from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/database_management_system_DBMS.html

Book review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Book review - Essay Example The exercise on amplifying exceptions and complementing is very educative and practical; hence it can be used to cynosure on solution focused brief therapy. The parties taking part in the exercise are able to experience first hand the intended purpose. The second technique is asking the miracle question, where this technique is to help the client know what he/she wants done differently in that the first attempts chosen to solve a problem did not work out; therefore, another approach is needed. The last technique is to understand the structural component of feedback to clients using role play and interchanging of characters helps in the formulation and delivery of feedback to clients. Corey (2008) specifically talks about how personal experiences can influence change of behavior in their day to day life, a bad experience can trigger phobia. Therefore, due to the phobia triggered the victim tends to avoid situations where the phobia triggering stimuli

Family Systems Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Family Systems Therapy - Essay Example FST perspective relies upon the assumption that psychological issues are developed and maintained in the social context of families. Such view implies that the therapist should pay attention to the entire family of the patient instead of focusing almost exclusively on the individual needs and symptoms of the patient. Modern forms of FST employ a wide range of methods and techniques from the field of psychotherapy, systems theory, systemic coaching, and communication theory and tend to incorporate several psychotherapeutic approaches including cognitive therapy, narrative perspectives, social constructionist approach, intergenerational theory, etc. (Nichols & Schwartz, 1998). Such variety of paradigms incorporated in FST is due to exceptionally complex, multilateral and multilevel nature of human interactions within the family setting. 1. Experiential: this approach, also termed Symbolic-Experiential Family therapy, was founded by Carl Whitaker in the 1960's. The experiential approach, as its name suggested, emphasized the role of immediate ongoing experience, required the therapist conducting treatment to be active and directive, and stressed the importance of going beyond the tenets of traditional theory. Virginia Satir was another recognized contributor and proponent of the experiential approach (Fraenkel, 1997). 2. Family Systems: this approach founded by Murray Bowen revolves around eight basic concepts, namely Emotional Triangles (three-person relationship system considered the smallest building block of a wider network), Differentiation of Self (psychological liberation of intellect and emotion from the family influences, independence of the self from others), Nuclear Family Emotional System (encompasses 4 primary patterns of relations that affect development of problems in the family context), Family Projection Process (the basic way in which parents transmit their psychological problems to their children), Multigenerational Transmission Process (the way in which smaller dysfunctional patterns are accumulated and passed from one generation to another, which eventually leads to serious psychological problems), Emotional Cutoff (the way of managing emotional problems that emerge in the family by cutting off any emotional contacts with other members), Sibling Position (this concept relies o n the research of Walter Toman and explains the mechanism of how position of the sibling affects behavior and psychological development of other family members), and Societal Emotional Process (explains how the emotional system influences an individual's behavior on a broader societal level). These concepts fully clarify the basic goals of treatment and role of therapist in the Family Systems approach: The person should be detriangulated from the emotional setting within her family context; The system of relations between the spouses or members of family must be adequately defined and clarified to the fullest extent possible; The person must be fully aware of the function of emotional systems; The person must demonstrating differentiation from the

A Job Well Done Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Job Well Done - Essay Example A Job Well Done She did not tell me to do this or that; she just let me do things on my own. One of the toughest things to do was getting out of bed early to prepare breakfast. My younger siblings had to make do with cereals and milk for breakfast because I am not so comfortable working at the kitchen. I brought my mother something to eat in her room, a sandwich and some warm milk, went back to the kitchen because I also had to clean the table afterwards and put everything in the dishwasher. That time I felt like it was the longest morning in my life. I got used to going out of my room when breakfast is ready then go back to my room after eating. After doing the morning chores, I checked our refrigerator to see what I can prepare for lunch. I had no idea what to cook so I just stared blankly on the vegetables and meat that was in the refrigerator. I kept thinking I have to prepare a decent meal for my mom so she can gain back her strength and get better right away. It’s a good thing that we are so equipped with technology that the internet can give you all the small details in cooking – just like a guide for dummies. I ended up making some pasta for me and my siblings and a soup for my mother. It was my first time to cook pasta just by myself. Even if I had the convenience of canned spaghetti sauce and ready to cook pasta, it was still a tough job to do because I had to make sure that I will be able to cook something worth eating.

The reason why celebrities famous 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The reason why celebrities famous 2 - Essay Example Those who have it and know it rises to the top and those without or rather haven’t known it yet are always left behind. This is evident in youtube where celebrities are unveiled on a daily basis (Hirsen, para 3). Actually, this is the basic premise behind all the success stories one can see in youtube. All individuals in Hollywood have enough claim to be labeled the title â€Å"celebrities." After all the reason, one knows they exist is because they are who they are and by that they have become successful from their performances in Hollywood. This does not take into consideration at all the people who have as much talent as them or even more. These talented people showcase their expertise via the internet. With the high usage of technology, young people have taken being a celebrity into their own hands by downloading videos into youtube so that they can share with the world, making them overnight celebrities. The audience in return enjoys the performance given by the youtube stars as they are original as compared to Hollywood stars (Hirsen, para 9). All in all, the article written by Hirsen clearly shows that the trending celebrities are youtube stars. They are mostly teenagers. These stars employ the aspect of talent into amusing individuals. Clearly, this shows that success and talent are facets that are not worlds apart, rather

Retail Marketing (Britain hypermarket net Tesco) Essay

Retail Marketing (Britain hypermarket net Tesco) - Essay Example In the beginning of 1990th Tesco took up the small category of retail market for lower-income customers. More expensive line for well-off customers was concerned with J. Sainsbury and Waitrose. Comfortable location, competitive prices, polite staff, great variety of goods and products, mainly, circumspect development strategy helped Tesco to become a really national shop. It has happened neither due to only British goods are sold nor due to the state authorities discrimination of American "Wal Mart" or French "Carrefour. National brand buildup took place thanks to Tesco owners and managers, who understood British customers wishes, whims and the mechanism of decision making. It became possible after using Management Information System (MIS). Tesco set close cooperation with University College London. The scientists offered new methods of gathering, checking, collating, review, storage, access, retrieval and update of statistics information of retail sells. Fed every second by Tesco's 12 million Clubcard holders, the Crucible database could in theory generate about 12 billion pieces of data a year if each cardholder bought just 20 items a week. This information is analyzed very attentively. MIS helps managers to understand what goods are sold better together, to place them accordingly on the counters in supermarkets. Experts, who carry out such analysis for Tesco, insist that the company has one of the biggest customer databases in the world. At first, hypermarket provides constant (season, holiday, single) discounts for that goods and stuffs, which customer buys oftener then others. At the end of a quarter each Clubcard holder gets voucher, equivalent to sum total, he spent in Tesco hypermarkets. Additionally they are rewarded with coupons, which allow discounts to that goods, the customers can enjoy (according to MIS results). Surely, this generated information is based on purchase data analysis. 2. MARKETING CONCEPTS ROLE Management Information System (relevant module) defines the consumer goods basket, which can be potentially interested to a customer. During the quarter Tesco sells about 6 million letters with propositions of different discounts to loyal clients. Also Tesco MIS provides detailed sells information, which allows placing the goods on the counters according to consumers' tastes in each particular region or even in dependence of daytime. In the morning customers buy one stuffs, in the evening - another. Tesco shops in the center of London differ greatly from the little out-of-the-way ones. Other MIS module takes into account ethnic and demographic factors, fashion and even the contents of TV programs. Can you imagine customer joy and pleasure, who feels such a great attention and care from a huge hypermarket This feeling is likely to that when your relative, living far from you, one day brings you wonderful gifts, which you wished for but tell nobody about. Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco manager confirms that Tesco is a mirror, which reflects customers' tastes and wishes. Actually, hypermarket role is not so passive exactly thanks to multifunction MIS. Experts firmly consider that Tesco influence not only the manufacturing but also the "consumer-manufacturer" relationships. Retail cards system presents a unique information gathering methodology. This is