Introduction
Elder abuse is a relatively frequent phenomenon in many families, though this problem remains invisible to the broad public. Ethical dilemmas around euthanasia and suicide raise numerous disputes, which still remain unresolved. The mentioned challenges are complicated because they concern not only individuals who encounter abuse or want to pass away but also their families. Therefore, such problems as elder abuse, euthanasia, and suicide require more extensive research and discussion to address these and relevant issues without violating human rights.
Elder Abuse
Elderly people represent a vulnerable social group because they do not have enough health and independence, which makes them potential victims of abuse. The most dismal fact is that the reasons for elder abuse and the ways to overcome it are still unknown (NCEA, n.d.). Nevertheless, seven common types of elder abuse exist, which suggests that addressing the problem should be individual, with respect to a specific type. According to NCEA (n.d.), they include physical, sexual, and psychological or emotional abuse, neglect and self-neglect, abandonment, and financial or material exploitation. Each type of abuse is traumatic to elderly people and family members who cannot handle it.
All elder abuse types have their distinctive characteristics and signs. Physical abuse refers to using force that leads to pain, injuries, or functional impairment (NCEA, n.d.). Sexual abuse means non-consensual sexual contact with an elderly individual, resulting in damages and infections of genitalia and other relevant signs (NCEA, n.d.). Psychological abuse is represented by actions or words having a depressing and distressful effect. Neglect is characterized by the failure or refusal to perform the duties of caring for an elderly person and can be detected through the deteriorated health and living conditions of the individual. In the case of self-neglect, the elderly opt for such a behavior that threatens their health, well-being, or life (NCEA, n.d.). Abandonment is when a caregiver deserts an elderly person, for example, at a hospital or public place. Finally, when an elder’s funds and property are improperly or illegally used, it is called financial exploitation (NCEA, n.d.). As one can see, elder abuse gains various forms, which require individual approaches to combat the problem.
Ethical Dilemmas of Euthanasia, Suicide, and Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia and suicide, including assisted, ignite fierce discussions because euthanasia is legally prohibited across many countries, and assisted suicide does not fit into the ethical code of nurses. The central similarity between the three notions is a person’s voluntary and intentional desire to end their life. The ethical dilemma around these phenomena is difficult because the nature of the problems is multifaceted. There are two opposing groups in the question of euthanasia and suicide, including assisted. One category views life as the undoubted value which should be saved in any case. The other part asserts that an individual must have a choice concerning their life continuation. Marsh et al. (2022) claim resolving corresponding ethical problems requires abandoning a dichotomy of pro-life and pro-choice positions. Moreover, whether seeking a solution should rest upon specific committees is unclear. For instance, in Belgium, where euthanasia is permitted, the Federal Control and Evaluation Committee handles the relevant issues (Mehlum et al., 2020). However, the people involved in the decision-making often have a scarce understanding of the issue and how to address it beneficially. Therefore, it is difficult to identify clear approaches to resolve ethical dilemmas because they have multiple and critical components.
Conclusion
At last, elder abuse, euthanasia, and suicide, including assisted represent hardly resolvable ethical challenges. While the types of elder abuse are currently defined, the methods of fighting it are still unknown. Resolving ethical dilemmas and considerations regarding euthanasia and suicide represents a complicated task. There are two positions concerning this issue, namely pro-life and pro-choice. However, both can be ineffective in finding a common ethical solution. Furthermore, the involvement of professional committees does not guarantee good outcomes due to the poor understanding of the discussed challenges.
References
Marsh, I., Winter, R., & Marzano, L. (2022). Representing suicide: Giving voice to a desire to die?Health, 26(1), 10-26. Web.
Mehlum, L., Schmahl, C., Berens, A., Doering, S., Hutsebaut, J., Kaera, A., Kramer, U., Moran, P.A., Renneberg, B., Ribaudi, J.S., & Simonsen, S. (2020). Euthanasia and assisted suicide in patients with personality disorders: a review of current practice and challenges. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 7(1), 1-7. Web.
National Center on Elder Abuse. (n.d.). Types of abuse. Web.