Medical Ethics and Dilemmas Flashcards
a subspecialty of medical care that brings together patients, caregiversm and nonmedical and medical professionals in an effort to make the best decision regarding a health care issue.
Medical Ethics
What does a decision rest on/finalized by?
Balancing data from individual and societal morals and values, evidence based medical knowledge, and legal precedent.
A statement made by a person w/ decision making capacity indicating his or her preferences for receiving medical treatment or not under certain circumstances.
Advance Directive (AD)
What happens if an AD has already been executed?
The AD will be placed prominently in the medical record so medical team can be guided by the patient’s wishes.
A written request to forego some types of medical treatment in a terminal or irreversible medical condition.
A living will
a person appointed to act on the patient’s behalf on end of life or in a state if s/he is not competent to make an informed decision.
A durable power of attorney for healthcare
When do ethical dilemmas result?
when balance is not achieved, when one party is not in agreement with the plan of care.
What are some potential benefits of feeding tubes?
- increased life span
- increased ability to recover
- increased possibility of returning to useful functioning
- improved quality of life
- improved psrychological and physiological state
- increased resistance to infection
- imrpoved healing of skin and wounds
Overall burdens of feeding tubes
- cannot be absorved from the gut
- physical pain
- cannt help b/c underlying condition is hopeless
- causes discomfort and only prolongs dying
- spiritual and emotional pain and suffering
- indignity
- emotional and financial burden
“comfort care”; specific delivery system for end of life care; when life expectancy is less than 6 mo.
Hospice
comfort care w/ or w/out treatment
Palliative
Palliative vs Hospice
Palliative is essential; hospice is not a requirement
