Preliminary Paper

*The purpose of this assignment is to critically analyze a complex ethical dilemma involving medical treatment for a patient with late-stage dementia. You will explore the implications of honoring an advanced directive versus the potential benefits of medical intervention. This exercise aims to deepen your understanding of ethical principles, legal considerations, and the application of theoretical concepts discussed in class.

Prompt

David has late-stage dementia. He has largely forgotten his previous life and no longer recognizes his family members. Nonetheless, David seems very happy. His family remarks that they never seen him laugh and smile this much before. David has contracted pneumonia which, if untreated, will likely kill him. The pneumonia can be cured with a course of antibiotics. Earlier in life, David signed an advanced directive indicating that were he to end up with dementia, he did not want to receive any medical treatment. Should we treat David? Why or why not?

Comprehensive Analysis

Remember the following when completing your paper:

1. Use Class Concepts: Apply the ideas and theories weve discussed in class to address the prompt.
2. Go Beyond Yes or No: Provide a detailed answer that explores the complexities of the issue, rather than just saying yes or no.
3. Stay Consistent: Make sure your arguments are consistent and dont contradict yourself within your own paper.
4. Support with Evidence: Use relevant statistics, laws, rules, and similar cases to back up your analysis. Remember to cite all your sources properly.
5. Avoid Summaries: Dont just summarize our class discussions or readings. Dive deeper into the analysis. At little more than half of your paper should be devoted to telling me about the reasons you have used, and why your decision is the best way to proceed. This means that you will need to do more than simply summarize the issue.
6. In-Depth Analysis: Use logic, reason, and perspectives from the humanities to offer a thorough analysis. Clearly explain the implications of your arguments. This includes again using other cases, statistics, and laws not just a feeling.

Paper Requirements

Write your response in a clear and organized manner. Ensure your paper is typed on a Word Document and is:

• At a minimum of 1000 words (excluding the title page),
• Double-spaced with 1-inch margins around,
• Times New Roman 12-point font, and
• You may choose either APA or MLA format.