Chapter 12

Question 1

whole-body death

Answer 1

cessation of breathing/absence of heartbeat

Question 2

whole-brain death

Answer 2

irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain, including the brainstem

Question 3

higher-brain death

Answer 3

i.e. persistent vegetative state (PVS): brainstem survives, but little/no neocortical fx

Question 4

palliative care

Answer 4

comfort care provided by interdisciplinary team - relief of the pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness

Question 5

power of attorney

Answer 5

pt decides who controls what

effective as soon as it’s signed and valid until death of pt

Question 6

health care PoA/surrogate

Answer 6

someone else given power to make health care decisions - only when pt is unable to make own decisions

Question 7

living will

Answer 7

applies when pt becomes unable to make decisions + terminal illness or PVS

details re: how pt wishes to die

Question 8

delivering bad news

Answer 8

SETTING

• maintain auditory/visual privacy
• always address pt first (by name that they prefer)
• sit down and face pt (i.e. do not talk down at them)
• ask open-ended questions (e.g. “what do you know about your condition?”)
• do not interrupt pt unless necessary
• be comfortable w/ silence
• make mutually-agreed upon plan for future
• respond to pt’s feelings
• plan and follow through

Question 9

euthanasia

Answer 9

“good death”

intentional taking of life by someone other than pt (e.g. provider) to promote merciful death - physicians have moral right to terminate purposely the life of a pt who suffers from an incurable/agonizing disease and wants to die

Question 10

physician-assisted suicide (PAS)

Answer 10

also, voluntary passive euthanasia -

making lethal means available to pt to be used at a time of pt’s own choosing; PT ADMINISTERS