02生词2
The Debate on Euthanasia
Dr. Jane Thompson was a well-respected physician known for her compassionate care. She spent most of her career working in hospice care, providing comfort to the terminally ill. As a strong advocate for patient rights, she believed in making the final days of her patients as painless as permissible under medical ethics.
Euthanasia was a controversial topic in her field. Some argued it was a legitimate choice for those suffering from unbearable agony, while others believed it crossed ethical boundaries. Dr. Thompson understood both sides but was particularly moved by the physical agony of dying that many of her patients endured. The decision to use drugs to hasten death was never easy, but she believed that in certain cases, it was necessary to alleviate suffering.
One evening, a young woman named Anna was admitted to the hospice. She was terminally ill with a rare form of cancer and in tremendous pain. Her family had done everything possible to prolong her life, but her condition had deteriorated rapidly. Dr. Thompson decided to initiate a discussion with Anna's family about her end-of-life care options. They explored every legitimate means to reduce her pain, but nothing seemed to work.
The law allowed doctors to provide palliative care to the extent necessary to relieve pain, even if it might unintentionally hasten death. Dr. Thompson carefully explained the permissible actions to Anna's family. She emphasized that using drugs to hasten death was not the same as active euthanasia and was legitimate only to relieve physical agony.
The decision was heart-wrenching for Anna's family. They struggled with the presumption that prolonging life at any cost was the best choice. However, they could see Anna's suffering and recognized that sometimes undertreatment could be more harmful than the compassionate use of medication to ease her transition. After much deliberation, they gave their consent.
Dr. Thompson's initiative led to Anna receiving the care she needed. The medication hastened her passing but allowed her final moments to be peaceful. Her family stayed by her side, grateful for the compassionate care that eased Anna's suffering.
In the aftermath, Dr. Thompson faced scrutiny from the medical board. There was a presumption of misconduct, and her license suspension was a real possibility. She had to defend her actions and demonstrate that her decisions were both legitimate and permissible within the medical ethical framework.
During the hearing, Dr. Thompson presented her case. She argued that her actions were based on compassionate care and aimed at relieving unbearable pain. She explained the initiative she took was in line with hospice care standards and that the use of medication to relieve pain, even if it hastened death, was a medically legitimate practice.
In the end, the board acknowledged the difficult choices physicians like Dr. Thompson must make. Her license was not suspended, and she continued her work, further entrenching her commitment to compassionate end-of-life care. Her story became a beacon for others, highlighting the need for clear guidelines and support for those providing care to the terminally ill.
单词及其中文释义：
- physician - 内科医生
- permissible - 许可的
- legitimate - 合法的，正当的
- hasten - 加速
- prolong - 延长
- use drugs to hasten death - 使用药物加速死亡
- agony - 痛苦
- undertreatment - 治疗不足
- physical agony of dying - 临终的身体痛苦
- hospice - 临终关怀医院，救济院
- terminally ill - 绝症
- initiate - 开始，发起
- to the extent - 在某种程度上
- license suspension - 吊销执照
- presume - 假定
- presumption - 假设
- initiative - 主动性，倡议
- entrench - 确立，牢固