Chapter 10: Legal and Ethical Issues Flashcards
Ethical Issues at EOL
- Acute therapeutic care
- Artificial life supports
- Feeding
Ethical Decision Making
- Patient’s condition
- Diagnosis/treatment
- Patient’s values
- Socioeconomic factors (costs, impact, etc)
Ethical Responsibilities
- Informed consent
- Privacy
- No harassment
- Commitment
Ethical Assessment
- Action (right/wrong)
- Outcomes (good/bad)
- Character (virtuous/neutral)
- Patient’s wishes
- Quality of life
Euthanasia
-X intentionally kills Y
Active Euthanasia
-X performs action that results in Y’s death
Passive Euthansia
-X allows Y to die
Voluntary Euthanasia
-Y requests death
Non-Voluntary Euthanasia
-Y is not competent to request death
Involuntary Euthanasia
-Y doesn’t want to die, X permits death
Suicide
-Y kills themself
Assisted Suicide
-X helps Y die
Physician Assisted Suicide
-Doctors help Y to kill themselves
Principle of Double Effect
-Intention it to do good, but ending result is bad
Arguments to Ending Life
- Prevent suffering
- Compassion
- Right to die
- Enhance human freedom
Arguments Against Ending Life
- Preserve life
- Hope medication works
- Legally inadmissable
Patient’s Rights
- Fully informed
- Refuse treatment
- Discontinue treatment
- Refuse CPR
Most Cited Reasons
- Loss of autonomy
- Loss of dignity
- Decreased ability to live
Ways of Controlling EOL
- DNR
- DNAR
- AND
- Withhold treatment
Process
- Sign a request, if you can not someone else can
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- 2 independent witnesses
Independent Witnesses
- Can not:
- Benefit from your death
- Work where you’re receiving care
- Be directly involved in providing care
Voluntary Consent
-No pressure
Informed Consent
-Person must know all information
Negative Freedom
-Freedom from coercion of others
Positive Freedom
-Freedom to do something
Assent
- Express agreement
- Child involved in decision making
