Health care law - life sustaining procedures Flashcards
1
Q
definition: qualified individual
A
- a person who has executed a declaration or
- a person who has issued an opt-out-of-hospital DNR option
2
Q
definition: life sustaining procedure
A
any medical procedure, tx or intervention, including resuscitation, meeting BOTH of the following:
- uses mechanical or artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a spontaneous vital function, AND
- when applied to a patient in a terminal condition, would serve only to prolong the dying process
3
Q
life sustaining procedure does NOT include
A
- nutrition or hydration except when required by
- IV catheter
- intubation, or
- when deemed necessary for comfort care or to alleviate pain
4
Q
definition: terminal condition
A
- an incurable or irreversible condition that, without the administration of a life sustaining procedure, will, in the opinion of the attending, result in death within a relatively short period of time, OR
- a state of permanent unconsciousness from which 1) to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, 2) there can be no recovery
5
Q
who may issue a declaration? when is it given effect?
A
a competent adult at any time BUT is only given effect if
- declarant’s condition is determined to be terminal AND
- declarant is unable to make own decision
6
Q
a declaration must be signed by ________ or __________, and contain a ___________
A
- declarant or surrogate
- date of execution
7
Q
what are the steps for
A
- must suffer terminal condition and either be comatose or physically / mentally incompetent
- attending must consult with an obtain written agreement from hierarchy of people
- surrogate must be guided by the express or implied wishes of the patient
- once decision is made, witness must be present
8
Q
durable power of attorney / attorney in fact is allowed to make what decisions?
A
- health care decisions
- if patient is unable to do so
- is the judgment of the attending
