2. Introduction Today, there are machines that will maintain a person breathing, blood flowing, and heart beating. With these medical technology we can now keep people alive for weeks, months, and even years beyond the point at which they would have died "naturally". For many people, this extra span of life may be a blessing, for they are able to live happy, productive lives because of advances in medical technology. However, should we use technology to keep them alive?
3. Life support includes medications and equipment used to keep people alive in medical situations. These people that need life support have one or more failing organs or organ systems, and would not be able to survive without assistance. The most common types of life support are for heart and blood pressure (cardiovascular system), kidney (renal system), and intestines (gastrointestinal system). Artificial respiration is usually used to maintain the life a brain dead person. Although the machine is providing the body with oxygen, that person has technically die. This technology is essential used if the person is an organ donor then the organs must me supplied with oxygen for a successful transplant. By using life support we can keep organs, from a technically dead person, in good condition to successfully transplant them to someone that needs it. Life Support
4. Cardiovascular System The most common method to support patients with life-threatening abnormalities of the heart or blood vessels (cardiovascular system) is with medications. Medications used to stabilize the cardiovascular system in life-threatening situations include antihypertensives, used to lower severely high blood pressure when organs are suffering severe damage, such as during a stroke or heart attack. The heart can be mechanically assisted to function normally. Sometimes a temporary cardiac pacemaker must be placed when the heart's electrical system fails. Artificial hearts can also be used, usually to maintain patients alive until they can receive a permanent heart transplant.
5. Respiratory System Patients sometimes may temporarily be sustained when air is forced into their lungs using a bag-valve mask. However, they will nearly always need a tube placed into their trachea before they are placed on a ventilator. Ventilators are machines that push oxygenated, humidified, and warmed air into the lungs. These sophisticated machines monitor, among other things, the amount of oxygenated air flowing into the patient with each breath, the pressure needed to deliver that amount of air, and the resistance in the patient's lungs. Special ventilators are sometimes used for children, and premature babies now receive surfactant.
6. Gastrointestinal System Receiving artificial nutrition and hydration, medically instilled supplements, to stay alive. Usually through nasogastric tubes for a limited period of time. Many receive this therapy through central lines (long catheters passing into the larger veins), gastrostomyn tubes, or similar surgically placed devices.
7. Renal System/Dialysis Kidney dialysis machines, provide a means of survival for those who’s kidneys no longer function properly. The kidneys are responsible for washing out he blood clean of the toxins. There are two types of dialysis, peritoneal dialysis and Hemodialysis. In peritoneal dialysis a special fluid is run into the abdominal cavity. It is then left in for several hours which draws out waste products. Lastly, the fluid is then drawn off and discarded. On the other hand, Hemodialysis is the mostly used of both where blood is passed through a machine that removes toxins and replaces necessary elements. Dialysis, “drains a patients blood, cleanse it, and returns it to the body at a prescribed rate, temperature, and chemical composition”(Malcolm). Without dialysis, the human body would slowly cease to function properly due to the damaging toxins.
8. Pros Advances in medicine and technology are helping people live longer, and prolong the lives of those who couldn't sustain life on their own. Life expectancy has increased from 68.2 yrs in 1950 to 77.8 yrs in 04. By having patients on life support we gain some time to find cures or medications for their illnesses. In addition, we also give the person a chance to come out of comas. Technology like dialysis, or pace makers helps facilitate life. Artificial organs can help give time to those waiting for a transplant.
9. Cons Coma patients are usually in an ICU or step down care unit, because of the medical condition or injury that caused the coma to occur. How much goes into using these technology? Doctor Ira Byock, said, “..it costs up to $10,000 a day to maintain someone in the intensive care unit”. Dialysis ,although it helps preserve life, it take a few hour for the process to complete and this occurs a couple times a week. Being on life support does not ensure a good quality of life. Artificial transplants may not be permanent.
10. My Ethical Stance Technology like dialysis or artificial organs, or a pacemaker, should still be used to make life easier to live. However, life support should not be used in unnecessary event. If there is absolutely no way the person will recover, wake up, then the family should not keep them "alive". Even though life support can preserve life and extend the lifespan, it does not mean that your quality of life will be as great as before. It cost to keep someone on life support. Money that can be used for other medical research, should not be used to keep someone that has no possibilities at waking up. Life support would be great though to keep organs in good conditions, for transplants. (If the person is brain dead that is)
