A 70 year old man was hospitalized today, December 4th, at a hospital in Miami. He has a history of lung disease, heart issues, and diabetes and had been in and out of the hospital for the last year. When he was transported to the hospital, nearly dead with a high blood alcohol level, the doctors found a tattoo reading 'Do not Resuscitate' across his chest, under his collarbone. His signature was tattoes under the request, making the tattoo a death wish. Concerned with the ethics of this tattoo, the doctors consulted an ethics expert who advised them to let the man die. The doctors stopped the treatment of the man until his health deteriorated and he died.
This incident shows how ethics in a hospital can cause argument. There is current debate over wether cancer patients or patients with uncurable terminal illness should be allowed 'ethical suicide' or being put down by doctors in a peaceful way. I believe hospitalized suicide is ethical, especially if the patient has no hope of recovery.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/us/do-not-resuscitate-tattoo.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fus&action=click&contentCollection=us®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=sectionfront
This was a rollercoaster from start to finish
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