Thesis Statement: For a long while now, the question of whether or not to offer life support to patients with chronical illnesses has been an area of debate with different parties taking opposing sides. Supporters of offering life support argue that a dying person needs a decent death that should be offered to them at all costs. Critics, on the other hand, argue that it is a waste of resources that can be used to better the lives of others.
History of the Topic
For persons nearing their end of lives, it becomes complex for them as well as family members to make decisions concerning their lives (“End-of-life issues and care,” 2017). Incurable infants are always at a point of no return and so are chronically ill patients. Some of them tend to experience a lot of pain during this times and result in preferring to take away their lives through euthanasia otherwise known as physician-assisted suicide (Coolen, 2012). Life support does not ensure that one does not die but rather prolongs one’s period of existence to ensure that they benefit the most out of life (“What is Life Support?” 2017). It has been incorporated in the law, and there has been a significant debate regarding its use and the impact that it could have on the patient as well as their loved. Discussed herein below are the arguments in favour of offering life support and those in opposition.
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Arguments in Favour
Argument #1: Supporters of life support argue that it increases the chances of one’s survival (“List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support,” 2015). When one is placed on life support, the chances of them recovering from whatever condition they are in is always very high. During this time, most people believe that a new development could occur or rather doctors could find a better solution to treat their loved ones.
Response: This a real-time argument is given that in rare occurrences, some patients have been able to recover fully after being placed on life support. It is always, therefore, a way of giving hope to the family of either the incurable infant child or the chronically ill adults.
Argument #2: Additionally, it is also a chance for the patients to be granted their wishes (“List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support,” 2015). For most patients, they always want to use these moments to write their will and as well fight for their lives. Life support offers this kind of moment for them to battle with their illnesses, embrace their last moments, and to come to terms with their death. When one is aware that they have limited time to do all the things that they ever wanted to do, they give it their all and stay focussed on utilizing this time for the better of all.
Response: Everyone always wants to die with a piece of mind knowing that they have left people in harmony. Life support, therefore, presents an opportunity for them to exercise this ad satisfy their need.
Argument #3: Another reason given for this is that it provides an opportunity for organs belonging to the surrogates to be used for securing the lives of others (“List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support,” 2015). Organ transplants have recorded tremendous success over the recent past with individuals who receive organs surviving at a time they are almost dead.
Response: However, obtaining organs like the heart and kidney can be difficult to do due to their scarcity. Individuals who are chronically ill have some body parts that function well, and this can be used to save the lives of others.
Arguments Against
One of the primary reasons that have been given to the use of life support is the prolonged agony that comes with it (“List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support,” 2015). For a person who is undergoing painful experiences, putting them under life support only sees them suffer more. This is a very true sentiment given that most of the people who have chronic conditions are always experiencing pain. Prolonging their life only causes more suffering than good for them.
Moreover, these life support medicine and machines could have some very gross and adverse side effects to the patient (“List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support,” 2015). Different life support mechanisms are put in place depending on the situation that a particular patient is in. For those with breathing problems, breathing aids are offered, and for those with difficulties in feeding, alternate methods are devised. However, all of the methods used have disadvantages that come with them. For instance, if one is undergoing artificial nutrition, that is, being fed through tubes, their esophagus is always at a high risk of getting damaged (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012). This argument is very substantial and presents a new way of viewing the issue. If it exacerbates another condition that is more adverse than the previous one, it is of no importance and adds to the agony being experienced by the patient.
As it was aforementioned, life support is also associated with the wastage of resources (“List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support,” 2015). Families used a lot of capital in treating their patients. A good instance of this is the case involving one Elaine Esposito who used life support for 36 years. Given the increasing medical costs, one can only imagine how much the family spent to ensure that she lasted that long. This sentiment presents a very substantial argument to the issue as it sheds light on how resources are wasted in the sustaining of life that will eventually be taken away.
Conclusion
In analysing both arguments, it is notable that there is substantial proof of the harm of life support. The supporters of life support present a very detailed and solidified evidence to support their claims. Esposito’s case is very outstanding in shading light into the issue. As a result, life support should be done away with as it causes agony to the patient, is costly and could lead to more severe conditions.
Works Cited
Cafferty, Jack. “Limit on Health Care for Elderly, Terminally Ill?” CNN . Cable News Network, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. 13 Aug. 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
Coolen, Phyllis R. “Cultural Relevance in End-Of-Life Care.” Ethnomed . University of Washington: Harborview Medical Center. 1 Ma. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
“ End-of-life Issues and Care.” American Psychological Association . American Psychological Association. 2017. Web 25 Apr. 2017.
“ List of 8 Main Pros and Cons of Life Support.” ConnectUs . Connectusfund.org. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
Math, Suresh, B. & Santosh K. Chaturvedi. “Euthanasia: Right to Live Vs. Right to Die.” Indian Journal of Medical Research, 136 .6 (2012): 889-902.
“ What is Life Support?” (2017). WebMD . WebMD, LLC. 2017. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
