End-of-Life Care

https://www.propublica.org/article/how-moms-death-changed-my-thinking-about-end-of-life-care

It seems counterintuitive that end-of-life care is something that we are willing to spend thousands of dollars on against a patients or family member’s wishes, for our own well being.

 When a loved one is lying in bed attached to wires and pumps to keep them alive, you are put with the decisions of what to do. Your options are to unhook them and let them pass away in peace, or keep them hooked up when their quality of life is dropping but still praying for a medical miracle. One more test or procedure to give yourself a little more hope, but the money is something that is never considered. Senior Reporter Charles Ornstein was put in this situation regarding his Mother who was put on life support. He knew that his Mother’s wishes were to not be kept alive artificially if there was no chance of a meaningful recovery. He had to live with the decision of unhooking her, because you can’t make that choice again. My family and I were too put in the situation with my 12 year old dog Cookie. She had cancer and had one surgery to remove a tumor, but after that surgery her quality of life dropped drastically. We had to make a choice whether or not to put her down, or to let her live out the rest of her life, potentially in pain. When the time came we realized she was not her happy, playful self and we had to do what was best for her and put her down so she was no longer in pain. Was that the right thing to do? Cutting her life short when maybe she would’ve had another few months. With end of life care you are unable to talk to the patient or know if they are in pain, which is a scary thought. Some can be hooked up to life support for months before a choice is made. I thought about why do we even have life support, if there is no brain activity or chance of any return? Is it just for us to waste thousands of dollars on a miracle? It is like playing the lottery. We bet money and hope to win, even though our chances are slim and we end up losing most of the time. 

Men Defining Rape

Men Defining Rape: A History

It seems counterintuitive that rape is a topic that has many points of view and is up for debate of what is and is not considered rape.

When we think of rape it is when unlawful sexual intercourse or sexual penetration of a another person with or without force and no consent is given. In Erika Eichleberger’s article “Men Defining Rape: A History” it is only men defining rape, just to get one perspective of the situation. But men can be raped just as easily as a woman can be. When consent is not given and a woman has forced herself on a man that too is considered rape. But our society is so blind to the other side of the story, and believes that it is impossible for that situation to occur. They think well why would a man want to say no in that situation, why can’t he just stop. Also the idea of what true consent is, hence making rape a questionable and up to debate term. If someone is in a situation where they do not want to have sexual intercourse and have not said no, but do not try to stop someone is that considered rape? Consent is all one big part but does it have to be verbally and physically to call it consent or just verbally. This led my thoughts to linger into abortion laws. When a women is raped and is denied an abortion how is that justified. Also the definition has been morphed into an idea that only when under an influence of drugs or alcohol or because of age it is considered rape, but why not when sober and of the appropriate age the same situations can occur. Someone can just as easily be taken advantage of and overpowered when sober. 

Is This Photo Ethical? 

Is This Photo Ethical?

It seems counterintuitive that inhumane photos can be taken to bring about awareness.

When someone lies dead from an inappropriate and unjust situation, photographers will capture the moment to be shared all over the world. In situations it has benefited many movements, for example the video of George Floyd brought about a summer long movement regarding African Americans and their rights along with police brutality. The photo of fifteen year-old Fabienne Cherisma who was shot dead by police has brought awareness of the flaws of the world’s justice system. But are all these explicit photos and videos inhuman and an invasion of privacy for these lost souls. There was no consent to the photo being taken ,and they captured harsh images. But on the other side of making these photos ethical it has brought awareness for what is right and wrong in the justice system. Simply an article with words or telling the story may not have as much of an impact to others than physically seeing the horrible crime. If we did not all see the George Floyd video as he took his last breaths I believe the impact would have not led to a worldwide movement to promote change in justice.