Living wills have been a controversy for a long time. Many people are for having living wills and many are not for it. My essential question was: Should everyone have a living will? This issue is very important because living wills can decide whether someone wants to be kept alive (when they're unable to speak their own wishes). Before I started searching for information on this topic, I knew that a living will was a document that states what type of medical treatment you would like if you couldn't speak your wishes. I also knew that the Terri Schiavo case would not have been as big of an issue if she had had a living will.
I first used books to find information on my topic because they are very reliable and they always give true information. I then proceeded on to using the internet and people as other resources for information. Then, I found information on what a living will was, and then found arguments for and against the living will. I used books, the internet, and people as resources. The most helpful resource was books because the information in them is always factual. The internet can have false information sometimes, and people are not always correct. My main problem was separating the false information form the true information. To solve this, I found at least two resources stating the same information before I decided it was true. My essential question has been the same throughout, but I have branched off of it. My parents helped me by giving me information on the living will, and helped me get rid of some of the false information.
The living will is basically a document that states what hospital treatment one would want if unable to speak. Some people believe that it is unethical for someone to deny treatment that could save their lives, but other people believe that it can get rid of major issues (such as the Terri Schiavo case) and that people have the right to decide what happens to their lives. I found out that living wills have been the source of many controversial issues. I have also found that there is something similar to a living will (called a proxy appointment) where someone else makes the decisions for a patient, if the patient cannot do so themselves. I've found that many people have living wills. In the Terri Schiavo case and many others, if a living will was present, the whole issue would have been solved. Many people would rather die then live with a serious handicap. If living wills were mandatory for everyone, all these conflicts would disappear. Here is a chart of the pros and cons of each side of the case. Based on this table, I came to the conclusion that living wills should be mandatory.
If Living Wills were mandatory | If living wills weren't mandatory |
- Conflicts such as the Terri Schiavo case wouldn't happen
| - People who believe denying treatment is unethical would be happy
|
- People who believe that denying treatment is unethical would be unhappy
| - Many people that may not want to stay alive would be kept alive with handicaps
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- People would have freedom as to what treatment they would like
| |
Before I started this project, I knew nothing about living wills. I had no idea of the importance that living wills hold. Now, I know more and I understand why a living will is important and (in my opinion) why everyone should have one. What I learned that means the most to me is that many issues could be solved with the help of living wills. This will affect how I think because now I know that people may not want to be kept alive as long as possible in hospitals. I know believe that it is fine for people to think this way, and I know much more information about living wills now. This project has taught me something that I will never forget.
