Regulate And Reform Euthanasia Essays - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics

Regulate and Reform Euthanasia One of the landmark cases that involve euthanasia is that of Karen Ann Quinlan. Quinlan, a twenty-one year old New Jersey resident, overdosed on pills and alcohol in 1975. She was rushed to the hospital where her physical condition gradually deteriorated to a vegetative state. The doctors determined she had no chance of recovery. Before the coma Karen said that if anything ever happened that would leave her physically and mentally incompetent, without any chance of recovery, she would not want to be kept alive by "extraordinary medical procedures," notes Derek Humphry. Karen's parents sought religious counsel from their priest. They were told that the Catholic religion allows the removal of extraordinary care if the patient was in a terminal condition. Karen's parents requested she be removed from the respirator. The hospital denied their request. The Quinlans then directed their request to the court. The superior court denied their request. They took their request to the New Jersey Supreme court where the decision was reversed. Karen was removed from the respirator. To everyone's surprise, Karen began breathing on her own and lived another ten years (Humphry 107). The Quinlan case brought to the forefront patients' desire to die a proud, quiet death. It also brought to the forefront the complications caused by the advancement of medical technology ("Euthanasia"27). Euthanasia has been practiced in Eastern and Western culture since the beginning of civilization. The capability of medical technology to extend life (as demonstrated by the Quinlan case) has made the issue of euthanasia more complicated. Individuals should be allowed to "die with dignity" in the event of terminal illness if he or she wants it. Terminating a patient's life is much more merciful than allowing him or her to die a slow painful death from illness. Those who oppose legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide say that this could lead to involuntary killing of the aged and infirm. I agree that there may be danger of abuse and that the vulnerable need to be protected; therefore, I support passing legislation that monitors and regulates physician assisted suicide. The demand for legislation in support of legalized euthanasia for the terminally ill has been an issue since the beginning of the century. According to Derek Humphry in Ohio in 1906, a Bill proposing to legalize euthanasia was presented to the Ohio legislature. The bill was defeated by nearly 80% of those voting. Opponents said the bill would have presented away for doctors to cover up their mistakes. Opponents also say that the bill would have provided a means for families to get rid of relatives who were a nuisance and give fortune seekers a shortcut to inheritance. Although the bill was defeated, the idea it generated still lives on (Humphry 12). Opponents of euthanasia often refer to the atrocities and attitudes in Nazi Germany for reasons not to support euthanasia. An article in the Progressive describes the essay "Permitting the Destruction of Unworthy Life" written in Germany in 1920, by Alfred Hoche. In the essay he proposes getting rid of the "'dead weight existence of incurables in Germany.'" By "'incurable'" he meant those who were mentally and emotionally disabled (Who 34). When the Nazis took power in Germany in 1933, as explained in "Euthanasia and the Third Reich" an article in HISTORY TODAY, they took Alfred Hoche's concept of euthanasia and used it to rationalize sterilization of those with "hereditary" illnesses. They also used the "euthanasia programme" to kill mentally and physically handicapped children and adults. Eventually they used this policy as justification for killing Jews, homosexuals, and others (Burleigh 11). Many believe that this kind of murder can happen again if euthanasia is legalized. However, the senseless, atrocious killings in Germany cannot be compared to carefully regulated policies that will allow euthanasia in selective cases. Such an extreme comparison should not prevent a merciful euthanasia policy for the terminally ill in unbearable pain who request it. As people began forgetting World War II and the atrocities of Nazi Germany, interest in "assisted suicide" and euthanasia was restored. To understand the controversy of euthanasia and assisted suicide, one must understand the difference between the two terms. Euthanasia involves the administering of the life taking measure; whereas, assisted suicide provides the means or instructions to the patient who intends to kill him or herself. Physicians who are used to saving lives are being asked to end patients lives. The request for "death with dignity" is very popular. In a 1991 Gallop Poll, nearly 60 percent of those interviewed said that a person has the "moral right" to end his or her life when the person "has a

The Fault in Our Stars - Book Club Discussion

'The Fault in Our Stars' - Book Club Discussion The Fault in Our Stars by John Green has characters who ask big questions. Use this guide to help your book club think about some of the themes Green raises. Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions contain important details about the story. Finish the book before reading on. Do you like the first person style of the novel?Even though The Fault in Our Stars deals with timeless questions, it has many markers of the year it was written from facebook pages to text messages and TV show references. Do you think these things will affect its ability to endure over the years or do the concrete references enhance its appeal?Did you guess that Augustus was sick?On page 212, Hazel discusses Maslows Heirarchy of Needs: According to Maslow, I was stuck on the second level of the pyramid, unable to feel secure in my health and therefore unable to reach for love and respect and art and whatever else, which is, of course, utter horseshit: The urge to make art or contemplate philosophy does not go away when you are sick. Those urges just become transfigured by illness. Discuss this statement, and whether you agree with Maslow or Hazel.In support group, Hazel says, There will come a time when all of us are dead. All of us. There will come a time when there are no human be ings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that or species ever did anything...maybe that time is coming soon and maybe it is millions of years away, but even if we survive the collapse of our sun, we will not survive forever...And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it. God knows thats what everyone else does (13). Do you worry about oblivion? Do you ignore it? Different characters in the novel have different views and coping mechanisms to deal with life an death. How do you? Reread Augustus letter that Hazel gets via Van Houten at the end of the novel. Do you agree with Augustus? Is is a good way for the novel to end?What affect does the mingling of normal teenage problems (break ups, coming of age) with a terminal diagnosis create in the novel? For instance, do you think it is realistic that Isaac would care more about his break up with Monica than his blindness?Rate The Fault in Our Stars 1 to 5.

How To Measure Mass Using a Balance

How To Measure Mass Using a Balance Mass measurements in chemistry and other sciences are performed using a balance. There are different types of scales and balances, but two methods can be used on most instruments to measure mass: subtraction and taring. Key Takeaways: Measure Mass Using a Balance A balance or scale is an instrument used to measure mass in the science laboratory.One common method of measuring mass is to tare the scale and measure the mass directly. For example, this is how people weigh themselves.The other common method is to place a sample into a container and measure the mass of the container plus sample. The mass of the sample is obtained by subtracting the mass of the container. Proper Use of a Balance Before using a balance, its important to take some preliminary steps. This will help ensure you get the most accurate and precise measurement. Be sure you understand how to use a balance before taking mass measurements.The balance should be clean and free of debris.The balance should be on a level surface.Never place a sample directly on the balance. You should use a weighted boat, weighing sheet, or another container to hold the sample. Some chemicals you may use in a lab could corrode or otherwise damage the surface of the weighing pan. Also, make certain your container will not chemically react with your sample.If the balance has doors, be certain to close them before taking a measurement. Air movement impacts the accuracy of mass measurements. If the balance does not have doors, make certain the area if free of drafts and vibrations before measuring mass. Mass by Difference or Subtraction If you place a container full of sample and weigh it, youre getting the mass of both the sample and the container, not just the sample. To find the mass: mass of sample mass of sample/container - mass of container Zero the scale or press the tare button. The balance should read 0.Measure the mass of the sample and container.Dispense the sample into your solution.Measure the mass of the container. Record the measurement using the correct number of significant figures. How many this is will depend on the particular instrument.If you repeat the process and use the same container, do not assume its mass is the same! This is particularly important when you are measuring small masses or are working in a humid environment or with a hygroscopic sample. Mass by Taring When you use the tare function on a scale, you are making certain the reading starts from zero. Usually, there is a labeled button or knob to tare the balance. With some instruments, you need to manually adjust the reading to zero. Electronic devices do this automatically, but require periodic calibration. Zero the scale or press the tare button. The scale reading should be 0.Place the weighing boat or dish on the scale. There is no need to record this value.Press the tare button on the scale. The balance reading should be 0.Add the sample to the container. The value given is the mass of your sample. Record it using the proper number of significant figures. Sources of Error Whenever you take a mass measurement, there are several potential sources of error: Air gusts may push the mass up or down.Buoyancy can affect measurements. Buoyancy is directly proportional to the air volume that is displaced and is affected by air density changes due to temperature and pressure fluctuations.Condensation of water on cold items may increase apparent mass.Dust accumulation can add to mass.Evaporation of water from damp items may change mass measurements over time.Magnetic fields may affect components of the scale.Temperature changes can cause components of the balance to expand or contract, so a measurement taken on a hot day may differ from one taken on a cold day.Vibration may make it difficult to obtain a value, as it will fluctuate. Is It Mass or Weight? Remember, a balance gives you a mass value. The mass would be the same whether you measured it on the Earth or on the Moon. On the other hand, the weight would be different on the Moon. While its common to use the terms mass and weight interchangeably, they are only the same values on Earth! Sources Hodgeman, Charles, Ed. (1961).  Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 44th Ed. Cleveland, USA: Chemical Rubber Publishing Co.  pp.  3480–3485.Rossi, Cesare; Russo, Flavio; Russo, Ferruccio (2009). Ancient Engineers Inventions: Precursors of the Present. History of Mechanism and Machine Science. ISBN 978-9048122523.

Polkey Reduction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Polkey Reduction - Essay Example Although the case originally concerned procedural unfairness ,it has also been used recently in cases of substantial unfairness, for example, if dismissal for a different (fair) reason would have occurred anyway at a later date 3 . Part 3 of the Employment Act 2002 established a framework for promoting the resolution of employment disputes in the workplace and the detail of how the procedures would operate in practice was set out in the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004 which were made on 12th March 2004. Both the remaining provisions of Part 3 of the Act and the Regulations came into force in October 2004. 4This Act was responsible for producing a certain statutory procedure to be followed in the circumstances set out in the Regulations. These two pieces of recent legislation will affect the way that unfair dismissal cases are judged in that is there will be a sort of a "Polkey reversal" .The law as it stood in the previous Act for a dismissal to be fair, the employer had to show that it there was a potentially fair reason for dismissal5 .For this law to apply the dismissal itself had to be reasonable given the circumstances.6 The Polkey decision seemed to cause employment tribunals to put undue weight on procedure rather than the substance of the decisions and this was a very fair criticism given the case law that was generated.However section 34 of the new Act inserts 98A into the Employment Rights Act 1996. The effect of this will be that if an employer dismisses an employee without the correct dismissal and disciplinary procedure this would amount to an unfair dismissal totally. Also now the aggrieved employee would receive a minimum of four weeks' pay as compensation where he or she was found to have been unfairly dismissed and the relevant procedure has not been followed. It should also be noted that that the tribunals do not have to take into account the failures by employers to take procedural actions outside the framework of the relevant dismissal and disciplinary procedure, provided that following such additional procedural actions would have no effect on the decision to dismiss. Also the dismissal may at times still be found unfair under this legislation even if the employer strictly followed the dismissal procedure and yet the reason for dismissal is not potentially fair. 3. The effect of case law since the Dispute Regulations (above) on the 'polkey reduction'. There has been a lot of case law since these regulations and there was particular confusion as to the meaning of the "procedures". The very recent case in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in the case of Kelly-Madden v Manor Surgery 7 has ended the confusion following these regulations under section 98A(2) of the Employment Rights Act (hereafter section 98A(2)) which has also been dubbed as a 'Polkey 2 reversal' and was very controversial when it came out in 2002. In the cases of Alexander v Bridgen Enterprisesand Mason v Governing Body of Ward End Primary School (see below)8 EAT adopted two conflicting approaches to the construction of 98

Evaluate the Financial Performance of a Business Assignment

Evaluate the Financial Performance of a Business - Assignment Example Balance sheet Income statement and Cash flow statement. These are the basic statements normally prepared by profit-oriented corporations. These statements help in knowing the profitability and financial soundness of the business concern. These are prepared at the end of a given period of time. Financial statements are used as an important tool to communicate the financial information to parties outside the organization (such as investors, creditors, and other external decisions makers). The Balance Sheet; The purpose of preparing balance sheet is to report the financial position (amount of assets, liabilities, and shareholders’ equity) of a firm during a particular period of time. A balance sheet contains complete information about assets, liabilities, and shareholders’ equity of the company. Assets; Assets are things which have economic value and that which are owned by the company. It include tangible asset, such as plants, trucks, equipment, and inventory. It also in cludes intangible asset, such as trademarks and patents. Cash itself is an asset. Tangible asset can be divided into two, Current asset and fixed asset. Current asset represent the company’s liquidity. This is where companies list all of the stuff which can be converted into cash in a short period of time, usually a year or less (Kennon 2012). Fixed asset is an asset held with the intention of being used for the purpose of producing or providing goods or services, and it is not meant for sale in the normal course of business (Accounting for Fixed Assets n.d). Liabilities: Liabilities include all kind of obligation that a company have. The term liabilities mean the amount of money that a company owes to others. Shareholders’ equity; It is also called capital or net worth. The following formula summarizes what a balance sheet shows: ASSETS = LIABILITIES + SHAREHOLDERS'EQUITY Income Statements; Income statement is a statement which shows the revenue that earned by the com pany during a specific period of time (usually for a year or some portion of a year Income statement also shows the expenses, and the cost associated with the earning of revenue. Income statement also gives information regarding how much the company earned or lost over a period of time. This statement helps to calculate earnings per share (EPS), and it also tells how much money shareholders would get, if the company decides to distribute the whole earnings of the company. Income statement can be also called the statement of operation, or statement of earnings. Statements of Cash Flow; A cash flow statement is a statement that contains a detailed report regarding the company’s inflows and outflows of cash. Cash flow statement is helpful in knowing the net increase or decrease in cash for the period. It is prepared by using the information and reports in the company’s balance sheet and income statement. Cash flow statement is helpful in recognizing the, changes in cash b alance(increase or decrease) sources of cash uses of cash There are three parts included in the cash flow statement. They are (1)  operating activities; (2)  investing activities; and (3)  financing activities. 2. Compare appropriate formats of financial statements for different types of business The financial statements explain from where a company's funds come from, where it goes and where it is at present. â€Å"Owners and CEOs use these statements to manage a business, bankers to check its creditworthiness, and investors to

Pc Gaming And Console Gaming Media Essay

Pc Gaming And Console Gaming Media Essay Not too long ago were computers the only place to turn to, to play games online. One of the first consoles to get online capability was the Sega Dreamcast, which then paved the way for other consoles. The Dreamcast unfortunately was not successful and the company went out of business, because it could no longer support it. In 2002, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube where among the first to introduce online abilities. With the popularity, the developers knew that online capability was what gamers wanted and consoles were being made with online capability and it became a successful system. Online games are very common in the gaming world, with Microsofts Xbox Live service leading the way with 23 million registered users. Sony has some tricks up there sleeve, and has big plans for the PlayStation 3, consoles are starting to get game downloads only available on the PC. A few titles can now be played across systems, Final Fantasy XI uses this system and people with PS2, PC, and Xbox 360 can all explore the same world simultaneously. However, Computers still have the largest selection of online games. Some of the most popular games in the world are exclusive to the PC only. Games such as World of Warcraft and Counter Strike Source make up 40% of online PC gamers. There are many things to think about before deciding which device you want to buy. You have to decide what type of games you want to play, and how much money you are willing to spend, and if you need a computer for other things besides gaming. Preferably, we would all have a PC and a console, but unless youre bill gates, then a comparison of the two is needed. Multiplayer gaming has been made easy with Sony and Microsoft offering online services for their products. The PS3, and Xbox comes equipped with a network card right out of the box, making it a simple hook up to High Speed Internet connection to get into multiplayer games on Xbox Live. With Xbox Live players are able to play with people around the country rather than having to play the AI, or have to go through the hassle of inviting friends over to play. You are able to trash talk your opponents if they you where in the same room. These things are possible on a computer, but consoles are built for this right out of the box. The biggest reason PC gaming isnt bigger than console gaming is mainly the cost. Most consoles today sell for less than $500 unless its within the first couple months of release, often with a couple games included. A PC around the same graphical power as an Xbox 360, or a PS3 can cost double the price of the console. On the PC, you have a very large range of often options everywhere you look. . Prices for a high-end PCs can get expensive very quickly A desktop can start at anywhere from $1,500 to $1,700. Not that you have to spend that much but, if youre going to spend time gaming on a PC, shouldnt you make the experience worthwhile? And, that startup cost presents a serious drawback for a lot of people (Charlie Deitch, Cityweekly.net). Everything in a PC is customizable to fit the gamers needs. You can pick and chose what you want to be in your computer, and when newer technology comes out you have the power to upgrade your computer if you want to. The second most obvious advantage is simplicity. PC Gaming can be a nightmare when trying to install games. People with Xboxes or PS3s can take their newly purchased game home and be playing within a matter of minutes. There are no graphics cards to set up or motherboard drivers to update, you have the assurance that your game will work on your system unlike a computer. Console games are rented out more frequently than PC games, and more easily returned if you do not like them. It is hard to return computer games because they are easy to copy, and resale. The other problem with renting PC games they run off a CD/DVD with a serial code only working one time, so its not possible to Rent these games or return them. You have to take this into consideration when looking at the games available for both platforms. You will be able to rent games you dont want to buy, and if you do indeed buy the game you are able to return it and get something else if you are not satisfied. With the PC your return will just be simply rejected. Although sealing everything in one unit does seem like a good idea, when some of the components inside the box become out-dated there is no way to upgrade your console, or even repair your system without voiding a warranty. If you void your warranty by opening your system to try and upgrade or repair yourself then you can no longer send your Xbox in for repair meaning you have to buy a new one if you cant fix it yourself. The only safe choice you have to repairing your system is sending it back to the manufacture and waiting 4-6 weeks to get your system back. Consoles perform only one task really well; while PCs can be a wide variety of things. Some manufactures are trying to make consoles more flexible, but it is clear that it will be a long time before consoles will be able to run applications like the PC does. Keyboards use many more keys to do the same tasks you can do on a controller, but PCs offer a lot more control of the game, but it comes at a cost of hours of tutorials and practicing at the game. There is an obvious lack of connectivity between the different consoles. A lot of the games are only available to a specific type of system, which means you can only play other people who own the same system as you. This means that if you have an Xbox and your friend has a PS3 it will not be possible for you to play with each other, another example is that there is no way for a person with a PS3 to jump the countless PC World of Warcraft servers available. The PS3 has made some progress in this area, paving the way for multi platform gaming between PS3, Xbox and PC users, but there are only a couple of titles that support this, and there done very poorly. The PS3 and Xbox both have online potential and online connection is needed for these systems. But for a good effect while most people purchase a PS3 is because the online play is for free of charge. On the other hand Xbox games and or the online play are charged to the owner monthly, or yearly. These monthly charges abide from 1 month, 3 months, or a 12 month value. PC does hold many more games than console games because PC can come at a less cheap price. Also, the games do not cost as much to make as in a console game. Another big advantage PCs have over consoles is that you can use them for other things besides playing games; you can edit and create your own maps for the playing field that you want to play on. But according to the gaming magazines PCs remain ahead of the gaming world browsing from better graphics, pictures, and making more ability to have the game literally in the palm of your hand. Computer monitors are found with high promise and the most recent include for a processors powerful game system. Though when a game is released, its impossible for a company to go back and alter this game and make it better. Online gaming helps people connect to people all from around the world and interact with different variety of individuals. Different brands of computers and software generally communicated pretty well with each other. This differs from services like Xbox Live, and PS3 online. It is your only option if you want to play online, and you must have that system to play online, it is closed to everyone else that doesnt own the system you have. As your PC ages, you have the power to extend its gaming life, you can add new graphics cards, new processors, or more memory. This is not possible on a console giving the PC a huge advantage. Even though PCs prices have come down in the recent years, they are still a lot more expensive to even the most expensive console. There are ways to cut the cost on a PC, like building it yourself or ordering a gaming computer through 3rd party companies rather than Dell or Gateway; even then the prices of a PC are a lot more than a console. PCs are becoming a little less confusing, coming with more tutorials, but eventually the gamer will come upon some type of complication that interferes with their games, be it a video card driver that needs updating or components that are to new or old for games. The fact of the matter is, you arent 100% sure that a game will run perfect on your system like you can count on with a console. You never have the assurance that your game is going to run smoothly until youre actually playing the game you can no longer return, and even then you have to worry about the game crashing or choppy game play. Unlike many console games, PC games have the capability to get extremely difficult. While this can give a game depth, it can also result in many various arrays of keyboard commands and overly lengthy tutorials which one must complete in order to play the game. PC games are usually not ideal for playing on the couch, especially when the mouse and keyboard are the preferred over console controllers for first person shooting games The most recent release of consoles has a lot to offer online gamers, and if youre into sports games and racing games, then a console would be your best option. If you like playing with hundreds of other people exploring one world simultaneously or first person shooting games, then there is a great deal more to choose from on the computer. Everyday Xbox Live and PS3 are getting better, but monthly fees and service charges are still very evident, and this is very unattractive to customers. Mostly PCs are still the leading option for online gaming, and it seems as if that will continue in the future.

Six Steps to Learning How to Overcome Challenges in Your Life

There are six steps to learning how to overcome challenges in your life. Each of these steps identifying the challenge or problem, defining the challenge or problem, analyzing the cause of the challenge or problem, exploring solutions to the challenge or problem, deciding to solve the challenge or problem, and taking action to overcome the challenge or problem will require your total involvement (Pokras, 1989). While no one is an expert on your particular challenge, there are strategies that can be used as tools to help you overcome these challenges. The first tool involves identifying the challenge. Successfully overcoming challenges require knowing exactly what the challenge involves. Many times when we first encounter a challenge we feel threatened and react defensively before knowing what we are up against. When we step back from the problem or challenge and take time to examine it we find the problem has other contributing factors that were not clearly in focus in the outset. During this phase take time to collect data about your problem or challenge such as when it began, what were the symptoms that a problem existed, and how long has this been going on (Pokras, 1989). Upon identifying the factors or underlying causes of the problem you can then move onto step two defining the challenge. In this step it is a good idea to write down the possible causes for the challenge that you are now facing. This will require analyzing the data you have collected, thinking about what this data means, deciding what it is you want and what you do not want, and narrowing down the challenge or problem to single points of causation (Pokras, 1989). Once you have narrowed the scope of the challenge or problem down to a manageable level you are now ready for step three-analyzing the cause of the problem. Really what takes place in step three is taking the time to analyze actions that were taken that resulted in there being a challenge or problem that you are now facing. This is can be accomplished by doing some type of cause and effect diagram that will give you the ability to visually comprehend what happened. Usually when we can clearly see where we went wrong we have that aha moment. Now that you have identified, defined, and analyzed the challenge or problem, what do you do now? Here is where the real work begins because many people can tell you what their problem is but they have a hard time doing something to change their situation. Step four requires you to make a decision to do something by exploring possible solutions to the challenge. Niven (2005) suggest developing a strategy or plan that allows you to decide what you need to change to overcome the challenge or the problem. This step is an important step because it takes a desire to succeed to overcome the challenge or problem and no one can instill in you the desire to change. This desire must come from within but will not happen until you make up in your mind what you want out of life, how you want your life to be, what you need to survive, and what it is you need to change to overcome your challenge or problem. Making the decision that you must change and that you have the power to make that change is difficult but can be the most rewarding thing you can do. In step five you will discover that after the decision is made that you want to change you can now actually decide to solve your problem. This step will require deciding on your criteria for success, deciding what your goals will be, establishing priorities, defining objectives, and taking responsibility for improving your own life (Cohen, Jacobs, Quintessenza, Chai, and Ungerleider, 2007). The most important tool in this step is writing an action plan including the aforementioned elements along with your vision for your life, your mission in life, and your personal philosophy or strategy for living your life (Niven, 2005). This plan must be written in a manner that allows you to measure your progress toward overcoming your challenge or problem. Part of your plan, for example, may involve getting a mentor, a person to serve as a role model, or setting up a support system (Cohen et al, 2007) by a certain date to fully implement your plan. Once you have established your plan you are ready to move onto the final step. The last step to overcoming challenges involves taking action . Implementation of your action plan will be the most critical part of you being successful in overcoming your challenge. This will require your total commitment, dedication, involvement and perseverance to achieve success. You ust remember that the best laid plans will not solve your problems if you do not do something to put them into motion, prepare yourself to deal with the unexpected, and be ready to make the little changes necessary to your plan to reach your goals. If you carry out the six steps of identifying the challenge or problem, defining the problem, analyzing the cause of the problem, exploring solutions to the problem, deciding to solve the problem, and taking action to overcome the problem (Pokras, 1989) you will begin to make progress to overcoming your challenges.