Ethics Final Flashcards
what is the principle of double effect
there is an action and there is a good effect and a bad effect
applications of the rule of double effect (RDE) aka when is it okay
self defense:
-defensive homicides
-intension is defense
Military settings:
strategic bombing
-civilian casualties
-Sacrificing life for others
Medicine:
-terminal sedation
-complications
adverse drug reactions
-loss of pregnancy
-medical aid in dying
what is the rule of double effect
-systemic way of assessing complex real life problems that have a good intended effect and a bad foreseen unintended and unavoidable effect that may be permissible
-this system is a stepwise fashion
what are the steps of the principle of double effect
- Action (object must be good or morally indifferent)
- Intention must be for the good effect not the bad effect
- the bad (evil) must not be the means to the good effect
- proportionality- the goo gained must outweigh or be equal to the bad effect each life is equal
describe the action of the evaluation of the principle of double effect/ rule of double effect (step 1)
-aka the object
-the system starts here (step 1)
-make sure to label the action properly
-if this is wrong everything else is wrong
-describe the action in a way that is attentive to the specific situation
-what am i doing? what do others think I’m doing?
-dont use morally loaded language, and no morally loaded labels
describe the intention of the of the evaluation of principle of double effect/ rule of double effect (step 2)
-step 2
-why does the person want to do the action
-there are immediate, further (intermediate) and ultimate intentions
-some intentions are very good and others are very bad
-these must all be included in the discussion at this point
-if you leave critical good or bad intentions out you will arrive at a wrong answer
-you have to have the intent of a good effect
describe the circumstances of the evaluation of principle of double effect/ rule of double effect(step 3)
-this is step 3
-relevant factors that surround the action (object) and impact the morality of the action (object)
-you have to talk about all the relevant information of the setting in which the action (object) took place
-the action that you take in one setting has to be totally moral but immoral in another setting
what is the distinction between means and effects
-the bad effect must not be a means to the good effect
-if the bad effect directly causes the good effect the agent would have intended the bad effect in pursuit of the good effect
what is the proportionality between the good effect and the bad effect
-the bad effect is permissible only if the proportionate reason compensates for permitting the foreseen, tolerable bad effect
what is Physician assisted death (PAS, MAID)
Physician provides the lethal drug with instructions for use but is not the agent. Patient is the agent who gets drug, decides time and place. Patient is the direct agent.
what do we need to know from Arras for the final
- keep an open mind and entertain a thought without necessarily accepting it
- legal rulings:
-liberty (privacy)
-equal protection
-withdrawal of care is not the same as PAS/ Euthanasia - For PAS:
-autonomy
-merciful act
-depression and hopelessness
Against PAS:
-immoral
-physician conflict
-slippery slope (limits for children/ infants)?
-AD for PAS/ euthanasia
Abuse:
-policy regulations, equity issues, obstacles
-voluntary (insurance telling patient that they have to let the cancer run its course in order to cover treatment)
vulnerable(poor/ minorities)
-reporting/oversite
-conflict of interest: managed care, capitation, incentives, government funding, families - Policy: legislation is better than backward judicial case approach
-morality of individual acts v. wisdom of public policy
-dismissal of social consequence: PAS/ euthanasia- rights (could be seen as passive euthanasia, bc only the patient can do it but the doctor is enabling it)
-who determines if life ends is more importnat than who ends life
Equal protection:
-withholding care is same as doing
-extension of surrogates, AD’s
-AND allowing natural death v PAS (is the intention the same)
what is WLST
withdrawal of life sustaining therapy
-if the patient has the ability to make decisions, fully understands the consequences of their decision, and states they no longer want a treatment, it is justifiable to withdraw the treatment.
when is withdrawal of treatment justifiable
-if the treatment no longer offers benefit to the patient. (have in mind short term goal)
-Pt has valid AD that fits the situation, or a surrogate/proxy acting in good faith with consent of EC
what are the 2 ways you can be declared dead in the U.S? Why the change?
-cardiopulmonary and whole brain death
-can keep people alive
-need for organ
-legal issues
-estate/ inheritance issues
-the 3 components of futility that are in trotters article
-a goal
-an action to achieve the goal
-virtual certainty goal will not be achieved
the important elements in the Baby does cases
-there were two baby does
Baby Doe 1: resulted in the baby doe rules
-Baby Doe rules
-Baby Doe Squads
-Sinage (laws) in the NICU about discrimination
Describe Minor Decision Making
-designates a mature minor so they can make independent medical decisions
-marriage
-mature minor doctrine
-emancipation
-armed services duty
what is the principle that is the most important consideration in pediatric decision making
-best interest
What argument was not used in Robert George’s paper “Embryo ethics”
-ensoulment
-this is the moment in time in which soul enters the body
what are the 4 arguments used in Robert George’s paper “Embryo ethics”
-not a different kind-Human DNA
-genetically new, distinct organism
-initial growth directed from within-this is the 14 day rule
-the 14 day rule means that we can grow embryos in lab for 14 days
-active disposition- develops many different structures
Describe Judith Thompsons defense on abortion
-having a right to life does not give a right to use another persons body
Organs procurement is causing the death of patients, true or false and why or why not
-false
-the first rule is that the donor must be dead before nay organ is retrieved
Is it okay for catholic married coupes to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy
false
-this is an ERD
Is it true or false that active euthanasia is legal in any state and is it true or false that physician assisted suicide is active euthanasia
-false for both
-PAS might be passive for the doctor by active for the patient bc they have to pick up the prescription and prepare it
True or false: PVS is defined as whole brain death
-false
-bc the brainstem is still working
baby squads came about due to the death of which baby?
Baby Doe 1
give the details about why the baby squads came about
-baby doe 1
-April 9, 1982 in Bloomington, IN
-down syndrome with tracheoespohseal fistula
-the family was told that the baby had 50% chance of surviving surgical repair
-not a very good prognosis for future function
-family decides not to treat
-family physician and pediatrician disagree
-the case was filed as neglect under the Indiana child in need services statute
-the lower courts sided with the parents and the Indiana supreme court doesn’t want anything to do with it
-infant died before supreme court case
C. Evverett Coop was surgeon that had fixed this problem before and he said the baby had greater chance than 50% he said the choice was based on discrimination and Reagan were incensed
What was the decision to forego Baby Doe #1’s treatment based on
-discrimination due to the fear of future disability
-Reagan Administration rules under See 504 of Rehabilitation Act 1973
-Sinage in NICU’s Hotline # and baby does squads (regulations)
‘discriminatory failure to feed and care for handicapped infants in the facility is prohibited by federal law’ Janurary 1984
Who was Baby Doe #2
-Keri- Lynn was born on October 11, 1983 with Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus, kidney damage and microcephaly (small head)
-stony brook medical center
-Lawrence Washburn, Vermont, files suit
-1986 US Supreme Court: Bowmen V AHA struck down first rules (privacy and parental autonomy using ‘best interest’ and autonomy of states)
-On June 1, 1985 Baby Doe Amendment is law and it is still in effect
-1988 Revision of Child Abuse Prevention and treatment Act (CAPTA)
what is the importance of Baby K
-October 13, 1992, Stephanie Keene born at Fairfax Hospital, Washington, D.C.
-Anencephaly (only had midbrain and was never going to wake up) (baby also has resp problems)
-Mother refused abortion on religious grounds.
-Mother insisted everything must be done!
-Tx to SNF at 6 weeks, off vent, Full Core.
-Multiple re-admits for respiratory distress and apnea.
-Tracheostomy at 3rd admission, 6 mos old.
-Hospital must treat based on EMTALA (emergency medical treatment and active labor act) , Rehabilitation act 1973, ADA
-Treatment of respiratory distress and apnea. Anencephaly not the issue.
-Baby K died April 1995, 2.5 yrs of age.
what is double effect
-Rule used to justify withholding/withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration or any other LST.
-Right to refuse care. Nonbeneficial or burdensome
-Not “Double Effect.”
-WLST is Not PAS or euthanasia (its allows choices to be made by the patient or family, that care is overly burdensome and futile)
What are the 2 arguments used to justify PAS
-Autonomy
-Relief of suffering
What are the 3 argument against PAS
-Immoral killing of innocent people
-Conflict of interest (physicians have to make ppl get better)
-Slippery slope liberalization of practice