Famous cases in medical ethics

Question 1

what is the value of knowing famous cases and watershed moments in bioethics?

Answer 1

• understand historical environment and context
• prepare healthcare workers to discern (un)ethical behavior
• recognize all individuals are capable of unethical behavior
• learn from mistakes
• recognize the power of one

Question 2

what are the belmont principles?

Answer 2

• respect for patient autonomy
• beneficence
• justice

Question 3

what was taken from the tarasoff case in terms of a physician’s duties?

Answer 3

if someone has made a significant threat against someone, the physician has

• duty to warn
• duty to protect

Question 4

what are the lessons learned from dax cowart’s case?

Answer 4

adf

Question 5

what are the lessons learned from larry mcafee?

paralyzed, sent to independent living facility

Answer 5

resources make a big difference

Question 6

what are the standards of legal evidence?

Answer 6

• minimum standards (preponderance of evidence)
• clear and convincing evidence
• most rigorous standard (beyond a reasonable doubt)

Question 7

what are the lessons learned from the terri schiavo case?

Answer 7

• the court is not the best place to mediate conflict in the family
• it’s not what the family wants, it’s what the patient wants
• calls into question “experts”
• stay within the frame of your knowledge base

Question 8

what was the first “right to die” court case heard by the US supreme court?

Answer 8

nancy cruzan 1990

Question 9

what was the impact of the karen quinlan case (1976)?

Answer 9

• motivated hospitals to develop process for addressing ethical issues
• hospital ethics committees

Question 10

what was the impact of the nancy cruzan case (1990)?

Answer 10

• sparked state and federal legislation to facilitate use of advance directives
• danforth self determination act 1991

Question 11

what was the impact of the terri schiavo case (2005)?

Answer 11

• heightened importance of surrogate decision maker / family discussion

Question 12

definition: coma

Answer 12

• initial presentation to severe brain injury
• self-limited
• lasts a few weeks
• can progress to brain death or complete recovery

Question 13

when is vegetative state considered permanent?

Answer 13

• over 3 months for anoxia, cardiac arrest, near drowning

- over 12 months for traumatic brain injury, MVA, fall

Question 14

what does the child abuse law of 1984 involve?

Answer 14

develops procedures to report medical neglect

Question 15

IRBs were known to be needed after which case?

Answer 15

Krugman - Willowbrook school (hepatitis study)

Question 16

what are the issues raised by Baby K (anencephalic)?

Answer 16

• defining death in a newborn
• nature of personhood
• notion of moral standing
• medical futility concerns
• resource allocation concerns