Legal and Ethical Dilemmas

 

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you will be able to:

Chapter 1: Advance Directives and End-of-Life Decisions

  1. Explain two kinds of advanced directives: Living Wills, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
  2. Explain patient self determination act and describe the responsibilities of a health care provider under it.
  3. Explain why anyone would need an advanced directive.
  4. Describe two benefits of appointing a health care agent.
  5. Describe two things one should do to ensure that his or her advanced directives will be honored.
  6. Distinguish between a will, a living trust, and a living will.
  7. Distinguish between a power of attorney and a durable power of attorney and a durable power of attorney for health care.

Chapter 2: Durable Power of Attorney or Living Will?

  1. Durable power of attorney or living Will?
  2. Explain the uses and respective advantages and disadvantages of a Durable Power of Attorney and a Living Will.
  3. List 6 duties of the Attorney-in-Fact.
  4. Explain "spring" Durable Power of Attorney.

Chapter 3: Common Misconceptions

  1. Discuss with a patient at least 6 common misconceptions concerning advanced directives.

Chapter 4: Medical Treatments and your Advanced Directives

  1.  Explain the following medical treatments:
bulletLife support
bulletCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
bulletMechanical ventilation
bulletArtificial nutrition and hydration
bulletKidney Dialysis
bulletOther medical treatments, such as surgical procedures, diagnostic studies, antibiotics, blood transfusion, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
  1. Formulate a values questionnaire to assist individuals upon end of life treatment decisions.

Chapter 5: Artificial Nutrition and Hydration

  1. Define artificial nutrition and hydration.
  2. Distinguish artificial nutrition and hydration from ordinary eating and drinking.
  3. Explain the consequences of the withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration.
  4. List 7 considerations which will help an individual in making decisions about the use of artificial nutrition and hydration.

Chapter 6: CPR, DNR and End-of-life Decisions

  1. Explain what a DNR is, and discuss its application with a patient.
  2. Distinguish between a hospital and non-hospital DNR orders.
  3. Discuss 7 guidelines for the appropriate use of DNR orders.

Chapter 7: Dying at Home

  1. List 3 advantages of dying at home.
  2. Define hospice.
  3. Discuss legal considerations concerning dying at home decisions.

Chapter 8: Ethics Committees and End-of-Life Decisions

  1. Discuss the role of ethics committees and patients right to make end-of-life decisions.

Chapter 9: Third Parties - Can They Take Away Your Rights?

  1.  Discuss the legal standing of third parties intervening with a persons end of life decision.

Chapter 10: Enforcing the Right to Refuse Treatment

  1. Discuss the two case studies laid out in this chapter and a patients family or friends outline various steps a patients family or friends should take to enforce his or her right to refuse treatment.

Chapter 11: Oregon's assisted Suicide Law

  1. Discuss various provisions and implications of Oregon's Assisted Suicide Law.

Chapter 12: Organ Donation

  1. Discuss the need for Organ Donation and provisions of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA).