Consumer Medicine’s Origins and Harms

2021 ◽  
pp. 002436392110592
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Lisanti ◽  
Samuel E. Lisanti
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Sexual Expression ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Objective Health ◽  
Expressive Individualism ◽  
Health Related

Consumer medicine consists of medical interventions pursued for non–health-related goals with the locus of the goals residing solely with the patient. Currently, contraceptives, abortion, cosmetic procedures, and physician-assisted suicide (PAS)/euthanasia fall in this category. Consumer medicine originates from the fusion of expressive individualism with its sole focus on the subjective psychological well-being intersecting with an expansion of health now including well-being combined with an exaltation of autonomy. Expressive individualism is inward-focused and entirely subjective reducing the human to a psychologic self while instrumentalizing the biological and social dimensions and neglecting the spiritual dimension. Expressive individualism is currently manifested through economic activity (career and consumption) and particularly sexual expression. This contrasts with the holistic biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health with its deep inter-relationships and prioritization of the spiritual. Consumer medicine has damaged the profession of medicine. Physicians now have conflicting roles of healer versus body engineer, and conflicting obligations to do no harm while performing medical harms unrelated to objective health. There is now division within medicine and increasing external state regulations both seriously harming its professional status. The traditional teleologically driven ethical framework that is objectively disease-focused is now confused with a subjective list of non–health-related values as goals for medical interventions leading to an incoherent ethical framework. Biologic solutions best address biological problems and do not effectively address psychological, social, or even spiritual problems but rather make them worse. Medicine now reinforces and is complicit with expressive individualism and its attendant shallow and narrow understanding of what it means to be human with the current valuation of sexual expression and economic activity. Medical harms and social costs have resulted while challenging the value of those who are disabled, elderly, or marginalized. This shallow view has likely fueled the current existential crisis contributing to the marked increase in PAS/euthanasia in the West. Summary: Consumer medicine currently includes contraceptives, abortion, cosmetic procedures, and physician-assisted suicide (PAS)/euthanasia. These medical interventions are pursued for subjective non–health-related goals as opposed to the traditional goal of treating sick patients for their objective health. Consumer medicine’s origins lie in the intersection of expressive individualism, the exaltation of patient autonomy combined with health’s redefinition as subjective well-being. This has resulted in harms to the profession of medicine, ethical incoherence, and medical injury. Consumer medicine promotes a truncated understanding of the human at odds with the biopsychosocial-spiritual model and human flourishing. This has likely contributed to the rise of PAS/euthanasia.

Health-enhancing Architectural Features of Modern Hanok, Experienced in and Desired by Korean Residents

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeunsook Lee ◽  
Yeakoo Lee ◽  
Miseon Jang ◽  
Myunghee Jang
Keyword(s):  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Objective Health ◽  
Architectural Features ◽  
Holistic Concept ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Interactive Relationship ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Health And Well Being

One of the essential functions of the modern residential buildings should be to support health and well-being of occupants in a holistic way. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the health-friendly features of a Modern Hanok (Korean urban traditional house), much valued by residents of these types of homes. In this research, the factors related to ‘‘health and well-being’’ were considered as parts of a holistic concept including assessment of physical/physiological, psychological/ emotional and social health dimensions. The health friendly architectural characteristics of Modern Hanok were identified based on literature survey and classified according to the Murtha and Lee’s U.B.C Theory of three health dimensions. A questionnaire study involving 300 residents of Modern Hanok and apartment homes was conducted to analyse the various ‘‘health supportabilities’’ of Modern Hanok. The similarities and dissimilarities of the two sets of residents were analysed, together with the perceived health-related features. The study has provided a new perspective of the interactive relationship, both systematically and empirically, between objective health-related architectural features and subjective perception of occupants, to inform architects to design homes that would encompass the healthy features of Modern Hanok for modern contemporary healthy living of Korean residents.

The Future of Empirical Research in Bioethics

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Sugarman
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Descriptive Ethics ◽  
Health Related ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Empirical Research In Bioethics

Empirical research in bioethics can be defined as the application of research methods in the social sciences (such as anthropology, epidemiology, psychology, and sociology) to the direct examination of issues in [bioethics]. As such, empirical work is a form of descriptive ethics, focused on describing a particular state of affairs that has some moral or ethical relevance. For example, empirical research can help to describe cultural beliefs about the appropriateness of providing health-related information, such as the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness, which informs deliberations about the extent to which it is morally important for clinicians to provide comprehensive information to patients in different cultural contexts. Similarly, empirical research can delineate popular attitudes and experiences related to contentious issues such as abortion, cloning, stem-cell research, and physician-assisted suicide to enlighten discussions and policy formulations regarding them.

The Case Against Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira Byock
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Moral Grounding

This article examines the debate concerning physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. More specifically, it considers whether doctors should be legally allowed to hasten a patient’s death in light of the statement of principle that they must not kill patients. It begins by discussing fundamental assumptions about the nature of society and the role of professions such as medicine before assessing the arguments of those who are in favor of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia and those who are opposed to it, with emphasis on the tension between principles and pragmatism. Arguing that the acts of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia weaken the moral grounding and structural integrity of the medical profession in service to society, the article presents a case against such practice based on a worldview and ethical framework built on core social values and principles that doctors can adopt to alleviate the suffering of their patients without resorting to death.

scholarly journals Australian pharmacists’ perspectives on physician-assisted suicide (PAS): thematic analysis of semistructured interviews

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e028868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Isaac ◽  
Andrew McLachlan ◽  
Betty Chaar
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Professional Autonomy ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Health Practitioner ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Healthcare Budget ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate Australian pharmacists’ views about their role in physician-assisted suicide (PAS), their ethical and legal concerns and overall thoughts about PAS in pharmacy.DesignSemistructured interviews of pharmacists incorporating a previously validated vignette and thematic analysis.SettingAustralia (face to face or phone call).Participants40 Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registered pharmacists, majority women (65%) with varied experiences in community, hospital, industry, academia, government and other fields.ResultsEmergent themes from the interviews were:legal and logistical framework,ethical framework,training and guidanceandhealthcare budget. More than half the participants supported the role of pharmacists in the supply of medicines for PAS, while less than half were either against or unsure of the legislation of PAS in Australia. Shared concerns included transparency of prescribing practices and identification of authorised physicians involved in PAS, which were consistent with existing literature. Religious faith, emotion and professional autonomy were key indicators for the implementation of conscientious objection to the supply of medicines in PAS. Re-evaluation of current guidelines, pharmacist training and government reimbursement was also of significance from participants’ perspectives.ConclusionThis study revealed current concerns of practising pharmacists in Australia, including previously undocumented perspectives on the pharmacoeconomic impact of and barriers relating to PAS. The need for training of all healthcare professionals involved, the provision of clear guidelines, including regulation around storage, administration and disposal of medicines dispensed for PAS and the updating of current therapeutic guidelines around end-of-life care were all issues delineated by this study. These findings highlighted the need for current and future policies to account for all stakeholders involved in PAS, not solely prescribers.

The Islamic perspective on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 278-286
Author(s):  
Mohammed Madadin ◽  
Houria S Al Sahwan ◽  
Khadijah K Altarouti ◽  
Sarraa A Altarouti ◽  
Zahra S Al Eswaikt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Islamic Perspective ◽  
Religious Books ◽  
Legal Perspective ◽  
Pubmed Database

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia can be debated from ethical and legal perspectives, and there are a variety of views regarding their acceptability and usefulness. Religion is considered an important factor in determining attitudes towards such practices. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the Islamic perspective on PAS and euthanasia and explore the Islamic approach in addressing the related issues. The PubMed database was searched to retrieve relevant articles, then the references listed in the selected articles were checked for additional relevant publications. Additionally, religious books (Quran and hadith) and legal codes of selected countries were also consulted from appropriate websites. The Islamic code of law discusses many issues regarding life and death, as it considers any act of taking one’s life to be forbidden. Islam sanctifies life and depicts it as a gift from God ( Allah). It consistently emphasises the importance of preserving life and well-being. Therefore Muslims, the followers of Islam, have no right to end their life. All Islamic doctrines consider PAS and euthanasia to be forbidden. However, if the patient has an imminently fatal illness, withholding or withdrawing a futile medical treatment is considered permissible. From a legal perspective, Islamic countries have not legalised PAS and euthanasia. Such practices are therefore considered suicides when patients consent to the procedure, and homicides when physicians execute the procedure.

Assessment of health related issues in individuals’, couples’, and families’ daily life

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meinrad Perrez ◽  
Michael Reicherts ◽  
Yves Hänggi ◽  
Andrea B. Horn ◽  
Gisela Michel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Lower Variability

Abstract. Most research in health psychology is based on retrospective self reports, which are distorted by recall biases and have low ecological validity. To overcome such limitations we developed computer assisted diary approaches to assess health related behaviours in individuals’, couples’ and families’ daily life. The event- and time-sampling-based instruments serve to assess appraisals of the current situation, feelings of physical discomfort, current emotional states, conflict and emotion regulation in daily life. They have proved sufficient reliability and validity in the context of individual, couple and family research with respect to issues like emotion regulation and health. As examples: Regarding symptom reporting curvilinear pattern of frequencies over the day could be identified by parents and adolescents; or psychological well-being is associated with lower variability in basic affect dimensions. In addition, we report on preventive studies to improve parental skills and enhance their empathic competences towards their baby, and towards their partner.

Euthanasia and Related Practices Worldwide

Crisis ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Kelleher † ◽  
Derek Chambers ◽  
Paul Corcoran ◽  
Helen S Keeley ◽  
Eileen Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
International Association ◽  
Active Euthanasia ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Passive Euthanasia ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
General Acceptance ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Controversial Area ◽  
Active And Passive Euthanasia

The present paper examines the occurrence of matters relating to the ending of life, including active euthanasia, which is, technically speaking, illegal worldwide. Interest in this most controversial area is drawn from many varied sources, from legal and medical practitioners to religious and moral ethicists. In some countries, public interest has been mobilized into organizations that attempt to influence legislation relating to euthanasia. Despite the obvious international importance of euthanasia, very little is known about the extent of its practice, whether passive or active, voluntary or involuntary. This examination is based on questionnaires completed by 49 national representatives of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), dealing with legal and religious aspects of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, as well as suicide. A dichotomy between the law and medical practices relating to the end of life was uncovered by the results of the survey. In 12 of the 49 countries active euthanasia is said to occur while a general acceptance of passive euthanasia was reported to be widespread. Clearly, definition is crucial in making the distinction between active and passive euthanasia; otherwise, the entire concept may become distorted, and legal acceptance may become more widespread with the effect of broadening the category of individuals to whom euthanasia becomes an available option. The “slippery slope” argument is briefly considered.

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