End Of Life Flashcards
When should resuscitation be stopped?
Safety of the provider can no longer be assured
Asystole for >20 minutes with no reversible cause
Advanced directive that is valid and applicable
Obvious mortal injury
Which conditions are unequivocally associated with death?
Decapitation Below waist amputation Cranial destruction Decomposition Incineration (full thickness >95%) Hypostasis Rigor mortis Submersion >1.5hrs
What is an advanced directive?
Decision made by a patient with capacity about their future treatments should they lose capacity
Is an advanced directive legally binding?
Yes
Can an advanced directive refuse life sustaining treatments?
Only if written, signed and witnessed
What makes an advanced directive invalid?
Patient withdrew it whilst they still had capacity
LPoA given authority to overrule ADRT
Clear indication that they have changed their mind
What makes an advanced directive non applicable?
Patient still has capacity
Not relating to the specific treatment
Grounds for which the patient made the ADRT have changed
What should you do if the patients advanced directive is either invalid or inapplicable?
Act in the patients best interests
Compare when the 2 types of LPoA can start making decisions for their patient?
Health - only when capacity is lost
Finance - as soon as the LPoA is registered
What happens if a patient loses capacity but hasn’t assigned a LPoA.
A deputy is assigned - this is a court process and can take months. The deputy generally oversees financial side of things not health and they have a lot more rules and regulations in place.
If the advanced directive and LPoA are conflicting which do you follow?
Advanced directive
If a LPoA refuses life sustaining treatment but you feel it is in the patients best interests what do you do?
Doctor can override the LPoA decision if they feel they are not acting in the patients best interest
