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Analysis Of Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air

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When it comes to making end of life decisions for a loved one, we must take into consideration the patients wishes. As part of a person human flourishing and their autonomy the person is entitle to make their end-of-life decision. Like in the book When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Paul and his family had to make end-of-life decisions for Paul since his medical condition was becoming worst as the days pass. During the last few days of Paul’s life, him and his family had to make decisions for Paul since his prognosis was detraining. As his wife Lucy stated, “ The only remaining intervention would be for Paul to be intubated- put him on a ventilator. Was that what he wanted? ...We’d witnessed this agonizing scenario as physicians, he …show more content…

As Paul stated in his book, “‘even if I make it through this,’ he said, thinking of the cancer in his brain, ‘ I’m not sure I see a future that includes meaningful time.’” Paul knew that his condition had very few chances of recovery. Therefore, he knew that the best option was to live those last moments that he had left without any invasive procedures that might only cause more pain and disrespect his human dignity. As we have learned in this class when it comes to making end-of-life decisions the person is entitle to “pursuit a peaceful death” by all means this person is entitle to choose to be relief from pain and suffering in order to die in a dignified way. In an ethical perspective Daniel Callahan stated, in our ethical book that the goal is to have “ a holistic view of the person.” This means that we must take into consideration the persons mind, body and spirit. According to our Health Care Ethics book, “ Dying persons not only want a voice in their treatment plan, they also want opportunities to express their values and wishes about life’s meaning as it comes to an end” (pg. 334). Most of the time dying patients wants to have a saying in their treatment plan. Some choose to die confortable and decided to terminate further treatment. For instant, Lucy states, “ If he doesn’t have a chance of meaningful time, he wants to take the mask off and hold Cady.” She knew that Paul would

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It was not intended to make readers sad or necessarily agree with his decision, however, to examine their own life and situation and to contemplate death, as it is inevitable for everyone. Most people are bound to have to face a similar choice as Clendinen. Maybe not in the same extreme measure, but most people will have to make a decision for a family member who is no longer capable of making medical decisions for themselves. Clendinen achieved his purpose and readers should walk away from this article recognizing exactly what Clendinen’s beliefs are on death, and it ought to make them curious about their own thoughts and beliefs. At the very least, talk with their loved one’s before they ever become ill and find out their loved one’s wishes.

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Content The concept of life and death cannot exist without one another. This topic is widely discussed throughout the book When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This memoir explores Paul’s indeterminate definition of death as he passes through distinct stages of his life. As Paul progresses through each stage, he views death differently as he transforms from a student to a neurosurgeon, neurosurgeon to a patient, and eventually becoming a father, where he needed to take full responsibilities. The most important thing in life to him is illustrated the clearest as the book comes to an end, where Kalanithi explains how human knowledge is dependent on our roles and status in our society.

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Introduction When the doctor delivers the bad news of terminal illness with a sentence of “six months to live”, the patient has to deal with end-of-life issues in a very devastating moment in her life. Nobody is ever prepared to die although one knows that death is inevitable. As mortal beings, when we reach this point in life, we scramble, we look at our bucket list and we try to play catch up on things we never got around to doing. We go through Kubler-Ross’ different stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. So, when we accept death, is physician-assisted dying a better option to die without going through this emotional turmoil?

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Physician-Assisted Suicide is a very prominent current event being documented today as science and medicine continue to make advancements. However, this is a very misunderstood topic throughout social media and national news, causing many people to have various views on whether or not it should be allowed. Even though some people feel that PAS is unethical, because people are allowed to change their own fate, when people are diagnosed with incurable, terminal illnesses, they should be allowed to die with dignity and on their own terms. There are several factors that help make the patient’s mind up when choosing this method.

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As a doctor, Kalanithi had experienced his fair share of apathy towards patients. He writes to the audience that there were plenty of times when he “pushed discharge over patient worries” or “ignored patient’ pain”; however, “they all returned, vengeful, angry, and inexorable” (85). After his cancer diagnosis, Kalanithi experiences the patient’s point of view, when an exhausted, snippy doctor refuses to provide him the medication he wants. This neglect and passivity ultimately leads the author to experiencing severe pain and “deterioration,” as his kidneys failed, his bowels were abnormal, and his mouth was so dry he couldn’t swallow (188). Contrastly, when Kalanithi was in the hands of a kind, empathetic oncologist, Emma, it was then that he was in his most relaxed and enjoyable state.

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In the short essay “One Dying Wish,” author James Duffy explains the importance of letting terminally ill patients decide whether they want to continue their lives or find peace and die. Patients and their families struggle immensely by the patient staying alive. Watching the patient suffer through the pain and losing hope. Duffy’s thesis is that terminally ill patients should have the choice to die in peace, without being medicated beyond hope. Duffy explains that terminally ill patients are in pain, and the idea of keeping them alive knowing there isn’t hope for them is wrong.

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Until one has bad times, it is impossible to appreciate the good times. When Breath Becomes Air is a first hand account of Paul Kalanithi 's life. It begins with his early life and education, in which he attains degrees from the world’s most prestigious universities in two subjects, science and literature. He details his progress towards becoming a neurosurgeon. In this profession, or rather a “calling”, as he says, he does remarkable work and leaves a profound impact on many people’s lives.

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According to Karaim in 2013 “Decisions about sustaining life, allowing it to end or even hastening death are among the most difficult choices terminally ill patients and their families can face”

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Making end of life decisions concerning treatment is never easy for the family of the dying patient. When educating loved one about the end of life care and treatment the healthcare provider must considered the cultural and spiritual prospective of the family. Futile treatment is describe by the author as “treatment which provides no chance of meaningful prolongation of survival or may only briefly delay the inevitable death of the patient”. The health care providers at time are stigmatized by the family members are even seen as a doctors who doesn’t care when face. When my sister in-law went into the ICU and her oncologist told the family not to considered any form of life supporting method, they were very reluctant ,and would like her to

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This is a part of the stage where finding recovery and answers challenge doctors and the loved ones that are suffering. In the Institute of Medicine’s critical report Dying in America, there is an idea that emphasizes the importance of making a decision for the patient that is on the stage of death. JoAnn Grif, writer of Dying in America, identifies that decisions for a patient should be made before as a living will from the patient’s own preference and decision. Letting the doctor know so it can improve communication and awareness for the individual that is on treatment, and this consent should ahead of time and planned out. Although, how soon should patients reveal a will to their doctor, some will ask.

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