Policy Issue Analysis: Oregon's Death with Dignity Act
Each section with points must be bold in the paper with the correct number of paragraphs it says to have. I think 9 paragraphs total
Policy Issue Analysis - due by Day 7 of Week Five
Analyze a piece of health legislation, a regulation, or a policy issue with significance to nursing. You may identify an issue from media reports, the professional literature, or from personal interest. Include how historical, personal values, social, financial, and other influences have shaped the policy. Though the one you develop will not be as detailed, one of the course texts, Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee (2007) has information about the content of each of the policy issue analysis section headings below as well as a very detailed example of a policy issue analysis on pages 83 -91.
Write a 4-5 page policy issue analysis using the following guidelines and evaluation criteria. Use a minimum of seven references from the professional nursing literature in the assigned course readings and other references in the Walden Library. If they are relevant, you may use one or two professional web sites in addition to the literature references.
Since this is a policy issue analysis, there is no introductory paragraph in this assignment. Use the title of your policy issue analysis for the main heading on the cover page and the first page of the analysis. Use the following headings for the rest of the analysis.
Problem identification (1 paragraph) - 30 points
Background (1-2 paragraphs) - 30 points
Stakeholders (1 paragraph) - 30 points
Issue statement (1 sentence or question) - 30 points
Policy objectives (1 introductory sentence and 1 objective) - 40 points
Policy alternatives (1 paragraph) - 30 points
Evaluation criteria (1 introductory sentence and 1 criterion for evaluation) - 40 points
Summary and recommended policy (1 paragraph) - 20 points
Format/style
Proofread your paper as described in the tips for success in this course and correct any typos, grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, or APA format errors before submitting your paper in the Dropbox. You can have up to 50 points deducted from your grade for this assignment for these types of errors, or for not using at least the minimum number of required professional literature references.
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Date: Oregon's Death with Dignity Act Problem Identification Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act was signed as a law on 27th October, 1997, and this resulted into the legalization of Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). This legislation is centered on a policy on morality arising from the rights of the patient and most importantly the patient’s right to die. The Act is rooted within a dilemma on morality regarding death rights and the right of individuals who are terminally ill and their death rights if they choose to die (Altmann & Collins, 2007). Therefore, the Act deals with a moral issue that is tied to PAS because since this Act was made law 246 Oregonians have committed PAS. Per Altman & Collins (2007), policies that have moral aspects are easily understood by the public, but they are at the same time often debated. Public opinion, media coverage, strength of interest groups, vulnerability among elected politicians, and ideology are usually the drivers of such policies (Altmann & Collins, 2007). Background This Act and issues regarding Physician Assisted Suicide emaciated from the debate on the rights a patient has to death. In the 80s, the Hemlock society was established, and it began to advocate for changes in the law regarding the rights of the patient to die. This society was popular for distributing information regarding assisted dying (Rich, 2002). In 1987, this society was supported with other organizations to initiate a movement that was intended to put PAS on the ballot in California in 1988, and in 1990, the controversy peaked when a doctor (Jack Kevorkian) engaged in PAS that received extensive coverage by the media (Rich, 2002). During the early stages, one of the first steps towards a patient’s rights including rights to die comprised of living wills. However, these were only applicable during the final stages of life and the death stage and inapplicable in early stages of incapacitation and fatal illness. In 1990, the society facilitated Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act introduction that is geared towards ameliorating the pain and misery of the patient and their family (Altmann & Collins, 2007). In 1993, the Act was founded, and a year later a referendum was held that passed the Act. Contrary to the legislature, the initiatives demand the government to have minimal interference with the rules regarding conduct of elections, and no legislature was required to endorse it to become law (Glick & Hutchinson, 1999). Stakeholders The Act has enormous support in Oregon within approximately seven out of ten voters in the state supporting it. In addition, key wide state officials including the state’s Governor support the act. The congressional delegation of the state is also strong supporters of the Act, and when the Act has been threatened in Congress, the law has always been defended by six of the seven members of the congressional delegation (Stutsman, 2004). The stakeholders cut across party, faith, and gender lines. Finally, physicians and nurses are among the key stakeholders. Nurses especially have a central role in caring for the dying patients and their families as they are the facilitators, guides, and negotiators for such patients and responsible for advocacy for both the patient and the family (Wurzbach, 2000). Issue Statement PAS remains and will probably remain being a controversial issue. Opponents to the law present valid reasons and views regarding the law and the possible abuses that may be practiced under the guise of this law. They believe patients may be under pressure due to the law and a lack of resources to lose their motivation and desire to live (Colby, 2007). In addition, no evidence exists of the physician’s responsibility in the whole process beyond the prescription preparation, writing, and filling the form process as per the government’s requirements. Moreover, they are concerned about the informed consent and who actually determines this consent (Colby, 2007). Therefore, the conflict exists around the question of what is the best option for the patient. Policy Objectives
Individuals who are experiencing pain and misery and wish to die should be given the choice to decide how and when they should die. According to Enger et al. (2008), ethics regarding provision of care favor the needs (biological) of the patient by nurturing the basic functioning of the patient and alleviating their pain and suffering. However, there should never be a deliberate intention to hasten the patient’s death and at the end of the patient’s life care should be provided that is receptive, attentive, and courteous (Engster, 2008). Therefore, the policy’s objective is to assist those individual that are over 18 years old and have terminal illnesses to choose how they would like to die. These patients had prolonged periods of illness and experienced significant pain and misery during this period. Therefore, the policy provides them with the option of receiving all the relevant information regarding end of life care including PAS (Lindsay, 2009). If such patients are kept alive for longer periods against their will, they make extreme attempts to kill themselves. This Act provides an option for PAS and allows patients to control the process (Lindsay, 2009). Policy Alternatives