Wilkinson’s (1997) defining attributes of a borderline case include “a scenario that exhibits some but not all of the defining attributes of a concept, leading to ambiguity and debate about classification.” The NPR podcast, “If You Have Dementia, Can You Hasten Death as You Wished?” meets the definition of a borderline case as it deals with the ethical dilemma of hastening death for patients with dementia, which falls in the gray area of medical ethics.
The podcast tells the story of a woman named Anne, who had a family history of dementia and wanted to have a way to end her life if she ever developed the disease. She found a doctor who was willing to prescribe her lethal medication if she ever lost the capacity to make decisions for herself due to dementia. The case presents a dilemma as it is not clear whether the doctor’s actions were ethical or not, given that euthanasia is illegal in most parts of the world.
The case raises several ethical issues, including the right to autonomy and self-determination, the role of the physician in end-of-life decision-making, and the legality of euthanasia. The podcast also highlights the potential risks of hastening death for patients with dementia, such as the possibility of misdiagnosis or the patient changing their mind about their decision if they were still capable of making decisions.
If the case were changed to meet the criteria for a model case, the ethical issues that would come to the forefront would be the importance of advance care planning, the need for clear guidelines and regulations on end-of-life decision-making, and the role of medical professionals in providing support and counseling to patients and their families. The case would also highlight the importance of ensuring that patients with dementia are able to receive adequate palliative care and support to maintain their quality of life, even if they choose not to hasten death.
In conclusion, the NPR podcast, “If You Have Dementia, Can You Hasten Death as You Wished?” meets the definition of a borderline case as it deals with the gray area of hastening death for patients with dementia. The case raises several ethical issues, including the right to autonomy, the role of the physician in end-of-life decision-making, and the legality of euthanasia. If the case were changed to meet the criteria for a model case, the focus would shift towards the importance of advance care planning, clear guidelines and regulations, and the role of medical professionals in providing support and counseling.