Education is what you make it...

Well, finals are basically over, and it was truly a fantastic semester. I've always worked hard and it's always paid off, but this semester I worked harder and I hope it pays off even more! I'm sure you noticed the title of this post, "education is what you make it" - I wanted to make this my first post with the ending of the semester to address the typical complaint "school sucks."

Growing up, I never really thought of school as a bad thing, it gave me something to do (I always got bored very easily). I always wanted the best grades I could possibly get, and I worked for them. Going into college I thought, "everyone here is going to be hard workers" - they wouldn't have gotten here otherwise, or so I thought. I will never judge someone's past so I could never actually say anything about the pre-college work ethic of students, but what I can say for sure - is that there are quite a few who don't put in the effort now. To me, it's quite frustrating to hear complaints about poor grades, crappy teachers, and crappy education, when people aren't even trying to get good grades, trying to understand the teachers, or trying to learn something! A university/college provides you with an opportunity, an opportunity to better yourself in a field you wish to pursue, in college they give you options to get where you feel you want to go and be. (Not to mention the fact that most people are paying good money to receive this opportunity), how can people let such an opportunity go to waste, and worse yet, how can people not blame themselves for their dissatisfaction? Life is all about opportunities, and one of the first big opportunities we are granted as young adults is the ability to go to college. Stop wasting education, stop wasting precious moments of life, and get out there and make your education what you want it to be!

The end of the semester has finally come, and I feel that my summer will be incredible- working with patients, taking a few courses, and relaxing with my loved ones everywhere in between! I am so glad I'll have the ability to update this more; I'd love for some feedback!

Next Blog Topic: Cheating in Academia

Defining Death

In my Biomedical Ethics class we talk a lot about death, and how it is defined; though no one can ever seem to truly define it in a way that can be agreed upon. There are a few different theories: higher-brained death, whole-brained death, and cardiopulmonary. Higher-brained also being known as "loss of person-hood", is when the higher functions of the brain cease, yet there still is some brain function. Whole-brained death being when all brain function stops, and lastly, cardiopulmonary being when heart and lung function fail.  New Jersey is one of the only states that does not oblige by the whole-brained standard of death.

As medical professionals we are instructed to form our own ethics and morals and utilized them in the practice of medicine, we are supposed to do no harm, and to help people to the best of our ability. Though, how are we supposed to conform to a definition of death when every person we treat is different? How are we supposed to know when to disagree with the family's decision because we know it isn't what the patient would want/ we know that it isn't what is best for the patient? As medical professionals instructed to do know harm and to do whatever it takes to help a patient, how are we supposed to decide for that particular patient if they would consider themselves dead or not? Are we supposed to trust a family that for all we know wants to "pull the plug" to gain an inheritance (or some other unknown motive)? Also, if you do not believe in the whole-brain standard of death, are you supposed to sacrifice your moral code?

Over the past few years, specifically while completing my patient contact hours, I have come up with a pretty set-in-stone morality that I believe in, and from what I have been taught I should not compromise that because my moral code is what makes me the future medical professional that I am/will be. Luckily, I do believe in the whole-brain standard of death, though I also believe in doing what is right for the patient and honoring their wishes. At the moment, I am conflicted between these beliefs, what am I supposed to do when not all ethics can be honored?

I know that I will ALWAYS, undoubtedly, honor the patients wishes, and I will fight for the patient if their is a discrepancy with their wishes; especially since I want to work in pediatrics and the child's wants are often forgotten. Is there anything else, as a medical professional, that I could do?

What is your opinion on defining death and upholding personal moral ethics while giving the patient what they want and obliging to state legislation?

Is there any advice for future medical professionals?