End of life (M2) Flashcards
whole brain standard of death
claims that human death occurs when all clinical brain functions irreversibly cease
higher brain standard of death
claims that human death occurs when a person suffers the irreversible loss of consciousness and cognition- loss of personhood- other portions of the brain may continue to function
medical futility
situation when medical treatment cannot produce the desired results. patient may still benefit from palliative care
ordinary/ obligatory/ proportionate care
the full range of medical treatment that has a reasonable chance for success; the benefits to the patient outweigh the burdens to dr
extraordinary/ optional/ disproportionate care
medical treatment that has no reasonable chance for success and or the burdens to the patient outweigh the benefits to the patient
advance directives
documents/ oral statements regarding the patient’s wishes in particular scenarios when the patient may lack decision- making capacity. they concern particular treatments that may be desired or rejected and preferred order of decision makers
substituted judgement standard
decide as the patient would decide- surrogates attempt to choose as the previously autonomous would have
best interest standard
determining the best course of action for the patient- appropriate when patient was never autonomous/ unknown wishes
euthanasia
“easy/ good death”- point is to end life as painlessly as possible in situations where death is preferable to continued existence
active euthanasia
direct killing with lethal medication
passive euthanasia
allowing death by withholding life-sustaining treatment
terminal sedation
occurs when sufficient pain relief requires a dosage that will likely also kill the patient
principle of double effect
principle with four conditions that must be satisfied to justify an action with one morally good effect and one morally wrong one
