Ethical Considerations

Question 1

Professional Code of Ethics (4)

Answer 1

1) Define operating principles that each member is expected to uphold 2) Ethically bound to report unethical behavior 3) Break ethics, you can lose your license

Question 2

Beneficence

Answer 2

Acting in the patient’s best interest (asks: what does the patient want)

Question 3

Quality of life

Answer 3

1) Life satisfaction, which is subjective and may fluctuate
2) Refers to various physical, intellectual and sociological factors. 3) The patients ability and potential for human relationships is also an important aspect

Question 4

Autonomy

Answer 4

Right to self determination

Question 5

Palliative Care

Answer 5

Providing comfort measures only

Question 6

Hospice Care

Answer 6

1) the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain, other symptoms, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems is paramount. The goal of palliative care is the achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families; must deny aggressive treatments

Question 7

How long must people have to live to receive hospice care?

Answer 7

6 months or less life left

Question 8

Prolonging Life vs. Prolonging Death

Answer 8

1) Ethically need to do whatever we can to save someone’s life 2) Not ethically bound to prolong death in the case of those with terminal illness

Question 9

Euthanasia

Answer 9

1) Illegal 2) Act of ending a person’s life in order to release the person from an incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death 3) someone besides the patient performs the intervention

Question 10

Death with Dignity/Physician Assisted Dying

Answer 10

1) Patient’s voluntary choice of death with the assistance of a physician. Person who dies is ultimately the cause of his or her own death. 2) Legal in Oregon, Vermont, Washington, California, Colorado

Question 11

Informed Consent

Answer 11

1) As much as possible, the patient has a complete understanding of the treatment procedures and the potential benefits and risks 2) Health care professional has a moral obligation to tell the patient the truth and to help them decide important matters related to their health

Question 12

Advance Directive

Answer 12

1) Legal documents that allow individuals to convey end of life decisions to family/health care team/friends.

Question 13

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

Answer 13

names a health care proxy

Question 14

DNR/DNI

Answer 14

1) Do not resuscitate 2) Do not intubate

Question 15

Non-maleficence

Answer 15

1) doing no harm; avoiding careless or unreasonable risks; keeping up-to-date and current; following standards of practice 2) Do not intentionally create a needless harm or injury to the patient, either through acts of commission or omission

Question 16

Justice and fairness in care

Answer 16

1) everyone has a right to appropriate health-care without bias/prejudice 2) Challenge to use health care resources efficiently, effectively, and as fairly as possible

Question 17

Clinical Death

Answer 17

1) Breathing and heartbeat have stopped 2) Person might still be able to be resuscitated by CPR

Question 18

Brain Death

Answer 18

1) Irreversible loss of all functions of the brain including the brain stem 2) Declared legally and clinically dead 3) Person can be kept alive only with the help of life support or machines

Question 19

Coma

Answer 19

Eyes closed and unconsciousnes

Question 20

Persistent vegetative State

Answer 20

1) eyes opened 2) Unconsciousness 3) Brain stem functions 4) cognitive ability, sensation, and perception not available

Question 21

Explain the process of dying as it relates to forced feeding/provision of fluids.

Answer 21

1) Mentally competent patients have the right to refuse treatment 2) Elizabeth Bouvia 3) In 1986, after a series of legal movements, the Supreme Court ruled that “mentally competent patients have the right to refuse treatment and that the state’s interest in preserving life does not outweigh this right 4) As far as nutrition and hydration