Case Study:
It is normal for an individual to feel depressed after receiving information regarding their health. This is especially common if the patient is terminal. Based on the fact that Debra has stage III lung cancer, it is normal for her to feel suicidal. Other thoughts that may be going through her mind are regret, sadness, and anger. She is upset that she is terminal and she does not want her retired husband to be in a financial burden because of her health. This is normal according the the stages of grief. Depending upon the state, physician assisted suicide is legal. Debra resides in Michigan, and physician assisted suicide, or Euthanasia is not legal. It is legal and would be considered murder if someone were to help a patient/individual end their life. If a patient is on life support, and their living will states that they want to be “taken off” of life support, that is legal. Her physician should respond by allowing Debra to vent, and recommend therapy to help her cope with the end of life. It is normal to be scared, worried, angry and sad about death… regardless if it’s yourself, a family member, or a friend. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are the same thing. They both end lives. As Debra’s friend, I would suggest for her to think things through. Ending her life is not the answer. It is normal to have all these different emotions and it is healthy. From this point forward, it’s important to make the best of the time she has left.
Five Stages:
There are five stages of loss and grief. They include, 1. Denial and Isolation, 2. Anger, 3. Bargaining, 4. Depression, and 5. Acceptance. Not everyone will go through the five stages, and the five stages can be expressed in numerous different ways. Everyone is different and has different personalities and ways of coping. However, these are the most common stages and people express these stages in one way or another regarding death. The stages may also vary if the individual is dying, rather than...