Ethical Issues Related to Aging, Death, and/or Dying

Ethical Issues Related to Aging, Death, and/or Dying.
The American Psychological Association writes that as people grow old and approach the end of their lives, their families and they commonly come across decisions and tasks that involve several choices ranging from simple to more sophisticated options. The American Psychological Association connects to this story in that it leads to scientific issues and also a professional organization that represents psychology. Also, its mission is to advance the form up, communication, and ensure application of psychological knowledge that benefits societies and improves the lives of people. These choices lie along the lines of practical, spiritual, psychological, legal, medical or even existential. For instance, the families of dying individuals and the person themselves are faced with the dilemma of what sort of caregiver help that they may need. This decision dilemma is also added to the sense that these individuals may be given special care under specified institutional setting or at their homes (“American Psychological Association” N.pag). The dying persons are also faced with the challenge of giving out their desired degree of family involvement that they find ultimate when it comes to the issue of decision-making and giving them care.
Also, the aging persons almost at the point of their deaths have many different legal decisions and stand to take. For instance, aging individuals are faced with legal decisions that involve drafting of wills, advanced directories, and even durable attorney powers.

In addition to these legal issues, in some communities of the world, the aging persons involve themselves in rituals that prepare them to go and meet their maker (“American Psychological Association” N.pag). These rituals include the confession of sins and seeking forgiveness from people that they may have wronged and equally forgiving the ones that may have wronged them. However, to other communities, planning for the death of a person no matter how old they are or even discussing the slightest bit of it is considered inappropriate, lack of care, and even dangerous as such people view it as inviting death to happen.
One of the pros of this story is that all choices that are made towards the end of life, which involve medical choices possess complex psychological components, consequences, and ramifications that significantly impact suffering and the quality of life and death. This point supports the textbook information that communities can reduce their risks and death by taking measures for precaution. The first con is that these medical decisions that are made at the point of end-of-life pose most challenges when it comes to people that are terminally ill and to the family members that care most about them and are directly involves with their plight. The second pro is that every decision that falls under this bearing should be considered about the terms of the relief of suffering and the associated values and beliefs that the dying person falls part of, which is supportive of the textbook information that there are different societal concepts on death (Wolleat 4). The consideration is made regardless of the fact that every medical facility has its unique values which calls for the need for moderation. Another pro is that many modern medical facilities nowadays embrace the value of individual autonomy, though it does not exclude intimate and family members. This Pro refutes the textbooks information that a death system is all inclusive but not autonomous. However, a con associated with this fact, which is in line with the book report, is that some traditional cultures still embrace the principle of community decision making in an interactive manner, thus eschewing the principle of autonomy. The implication is that health care providers in most modern health care facilities may overlook people’s wish to discuss death about their individual autonomy values.
Works Cited
“End Of Life Issues And Care”. American Psychological Association. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Wolleat, Patricia L. “Ethical Issues in the Provision of Services Related to Death, Dying, and Bereavement.” PsycCRITIQUES, vol. 55, no. 4, 2010.