Drawing on at least one example, explore the role that autonomy plays Essay

Drawing on at least one example, explore the role that autonomy plays in achieving a good death - Essay Example Most patients, under the guidance of a clinician, usually make their end of life decisions without any trouble and their wishes are granted. In other cases, the patient is usually too ill or unconscious to contribute to the decision, thus requiring their relatives to do so on their behalf. However, in both cases, the opinion of the patient is usually preferred, making this decision a very important one in a person’s life. With the current advances in medical technology today, most diseases that were considered hopeless and incurable a decade ago are now being managed successfully. Although this is a wonderful thing, it is also very important to acknowledge the fact that the quality of life of a patient should also be considered. As a result of the seemingly extraordinary power of technology, most doctors assume that the role of a clinician is to extend a patient’s life for as long as possible, by every mean necessary. Furthermore, this notion reinforces the natural human urge to ‘do something’ when faced with an insoluble fatal medical condition. As it turns out, most of the actions taken to extend a patient’s life at this stage only prolong their suffering and the dying process rather than prevent it. In the following sections, this essay will explore the role of autonomy in achieving a good death. Some of the advantages and shortcomings of adopting patient autonomy in the hospitals will be covered in comparison to medical paternalism, which is essentially the opposite of autonomy. In addition, the essay will look into the relationship between patient autonomy and the other three concepts of biomedical ethics as proposed by Beauchamp and Childress (2001). Finally, recommendations will be made based on the discussion of the role of patient autonomy in achieving a good death. According to the Institute of Medicine, a good death can be defined as â€Å"one that is free from avoidable death and suffering for patients, families and caregivers in