Legal & Ethical Dilemmas
Self-Study Examination
Instructions: After studying the text answer the following true/false or multiple choice questions. Remember, there's only one answer to each question.
a) A person has a right to die at home. b) dying at home provides the advantage of being in a psychologically comfortable surrounding. c) dying at home offers the patient a greater sense of control. d) the disadvantage of dying at home is that the patient loses the right to all medical care.
a) prolong life b) provide medical treatments that alleviate pain or maintain comfort throughout the dying process. c) reduce medical costs for the dying patient
a) Home health care may include hospice for the dying patient. b) All hospice programs must provide care to families as well as to the dying persons. c) The purpose of hospice care is to treat dying persons only. d) Both hospice and home health care provide health care in the individual's home. e) Both hospice and home health care can include life- prolonging treatment.
a) True b) False
a) A person dying at home can change his mind and ask for life-prolonging treatment. b) A dying patient's refusal to accept life-prolonging treatment may be considered suicide and may result in denial of life insurance benefits. c) If a dying person changes his mind and asks for life-pro longing procedures, most health insurance plans would not cover the costs. d) Families run legal risk when they allow the loved ones to die in their homes.
a) living trust b) living will c) durable power of attorney for health care
a) DPA for health care allows you to appoint an agent to act in your behalf. b) The agent can make only the end-of-life decisions for you. c) The agent acts only when you are unable to make decisions for yourself. d) The agent can be anyone whom you can trust.
a) A living will gives specific directions to your agent about your wishes. b) In the event the agent is unavailable the physician can look to the living will for guidance. c) A living will releases the agent and caregiver from legal liability.
a) your physician b) a close family member or a good friend c) two or more members of your family d) all of the above
a) your agent b) disinterested parties c) your physician d) close relatives e) all of the above
a) When a patient refuses life support he may still be given pain medication, antibiotics, even surgery as part of palliative care. b) Life support system generally does not include artificial nutrition and hydration. c) Once a medical treatment is started on a terminal patient it cannot generally be stopped. d) Withdrawing artificial nutrition and hydration often results in a painful death.
a) power of attorney b) durable power of attorney c) durable power of attorney for health care d) a and b above e) all of the above
a) A DNR order must be signed by a physician in order to be valid. b) A DNR order is required to refuse CPR. c) In order to avoid CPR, patient must prepare a living will. d) A patient with DNR order may still receive other medical treatment.
a) Once a person signs an advance directive, all health care decisions are made by the agent designated. b) Signing an advance directive may deprive a person of care he or she would want. c) Under PSDA, all health care facilities are required to obtain advance directives from patients at the time of admission. d) Advance directives will not protect you from unwanted treatment in an emergency. e) all of the above