Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Debate - Essay Example The days where nothing could be done to stop or slow the occurrence of death are in the past. Now, there are multiple machines and procedures that can slow or even prevent death. These machines can provide us with functions needed for a person to continue living. II. Pro prolonging life opening statement Human beings, with all their abilities to create objects, cannot summon nor command the retrieval of lost lives. Traditionally, perpetuation of life means continuation of generations; while extending life of people means they are given more time to spend their days with their loved ones, regardless of their medical status. There are positive implications associated with prolonging lives, both in general and individual sense. This debate considers prolonging life a valuable right of individuals protected both by law and by moral ethics in existing societies. By preserving life, individuals from any socioeconomic status are given the respect they deserve. Moreover, the sanctity of life is said to be embedded in the clinical practice of health care professionals, where they are in oath in continually preserving lives, and not the way around. III. Arguments in favor of prolonging Life A. Value of prolonging life Life is valued according to inherent traits that man, alone, possessed, including the ability to experience emotions, rational capabilities, and simply having the consciousness seemingly absent in non-moving forms of life (Bayertz, 1996, p. 206). In spite of poor rational capabilities and consciousness possibly exhibited by patients in critical units, their ability to feel is still presumed intact, as such, sanctity of preserving such exclusive attribute is one of the things to be protected. No one have the right to eliminate such valuable feature in every person. B. Cost Factors 1. Prolonging life is never of limited resources Current medical reports demonstrated less significant difference, in terms of cost-containment, in limiting life support utilizatio n for sustenance of critical patients compared with restricting life support utilization as adherence to bedside rationing to priority patients (Luce & White, 2007). The report demonstrated that limiting measures in life support has minimal impact on the so-called cost-efficiency in intensive care units. The act of prolonging life of individuals as means of effective care can even have a constructive impact on program expenditure of hospital institutions. Reduction in death rates as a measure of clinical outcome improvement generates positive hospital revenues, as institutions save from offering services through departmental programs, providing extra finances for other hospital operations (â€Å"Financial Results,† 2009). Hospital efficiency and longevity are also secured when the patient has the â€Å"appropriate level of care† (Luce & White, 2007, p. 1106). This is one valid proof that substantial reduction in mortality figures by providing effective care through pro longing life can boosts hospital resources. C. Ethical 1) The RIGHT to LIFE is protected by Universal Human Rights As accorded by human rights advocates, the state (including its citizens) must protect life, at all cost. Article 3 in the Preamble of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (n.d.) had clearly shown its support in preserving to one’s life. Moreover, Cruzan v. Director (1990) is the landmark case that upholds the right to life. There, the