Paramedic Law and Ethics Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Furthermore, these decisions have to focus on particular circumstances and qualities in the patient which can help the practitioner arrive at a conscientious and beneficial decision. Reading Report 2 In the sixth chapter of Berglund’s book (2007), she discusses about the more dramatic ethics issues, especially those which relate to the beginning and the end of life, including issues like abortion, genetics, cloning, IVF, suicide, and euthanasia. The beginning of life based on the discussion in the textbook is based on the scientific and the moral precedents (Berglund, 2007). Various analysts and interest groups discussing the issue also base their position on a scientific and a moral stance. Life begins with cells and cell clusters which ultimately develop into human beings; and one’s personhood is said to begin when his qualities for intrinsic and extrinsic function have developed (Stassen & Gushee, 2003). These are the elements of life and personhood which fuels the debate on abortion, IVF (including IVF-related technologies like cloning and medically-assisted pregnancies), and stem-cell research. Genetic issues are important considerations because they help poi nt out that the possibility of changing human nature is real (Isimbaldi, 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Paramedic Law and Ethics or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Those who oppose euthanasia point out that the danger of its application in other similar cases may be taken up as common practice; those who support euthanasia point out that it is covered under the principle of autonomy—where a person becomes an extension of himself (Schanker, 1993). In effect, this autonomy gives him the right to decide independently about his care and health outcome. For a medical practitioner, the decision is also an independent and autonomous one (Manning, 1998). The medical practitioner (including the paramedics and other health professionals) may or may not choose to participate in abortions, or in euthanasia, or in cloning procedures (Cohen-Almagor, 2004).