Unit 2 Bioethics and its Application in Various Health Care Situations Prof. Eljohn P. Zulueta, RN, MAN, PhDc

Unit 2 Bio Prof. Eljohn P. Zulueta, RN, MAN, PhDcethics and its Application in Various Health Care Situations B. Dignity in Death and Dying 1. Euthanasia and Prolongation of Life Dying with Dignity (slide 1 of 1) • Movement that promotes the ability to meet death on your own terms. • The word “dignity” is derived from the Latin, dignitas, meaning worthiness and nobility. It may be attributed to a broad range of things. • “Dignity” appears to have two words that function as opposites, “undignified” and “indignity”. One important aspect in these two words, neither of which seem to function as a pure antonym, is the sense that they can convey of some type of insult or affront. Euthanasia (slide 1 of 21) • Euthanasia comes from the Greek words: Eu (good) and Thanatosis (death) and it means "Good Death, "Gentle and Easy Death." This word has come to be used for "mercy killing”. • It is the act or practice of ending a life of a person either by a lethal injection or suspension of medical treatment. • The word "euthanasia" was first used in a medical context by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, to refer to an easy, painless, happy death, during which it was a "physician's responsibility to alleviate the 'physical sufferings' of the body” ....................................................CONTINUED...............................................