1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues of the healthcare professional

1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues Importance for the healthcare professional to understand legal and ethical issues Knowledge of legal responsibilities Limitations of practice Implications of their actions 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues Importance for the healthcare professional to understand legal and ethical issues Protection of Healthcare professionals Patients Co-workers Facility 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues Importance for the healthcare professional to understand legal and ethical issues Ethical behavior ensures Quality patient care Positive work relationships Well-managed workplace 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and ethical dilemmas encountered by healthcare professionals 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas I. ABORTION Definition: Termination of a pregnancy Examples: Spontaneous Induced Abortion is legal. What are the ethical issues? Possible ethical issues/topics for discussion on abortion: Comparative rights – does the fetus have the same rights to life as the mom has to determine her future? Question of personhood – when does a baby’s personhood begin? At conception or the day of birth? Sanctity of human life – do we believe that all human life is sacred, and, thus, that the direct and intentional taking of an innocent human life is a proper act? Abortion from a utilitarian perspective: The question is not can the fetus reason or talk, but can they suffer? 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas II. END OF LIFE DILEMMAS 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas A. EUTHANASIA (mercy killing) Assisted The act of ending the life of an individual in a painless manner. Individual is usually suffering from a terminal illness. Types of Euthanasia Voluntary – by consent of the individual (patient) Involuntary – another person makes a decision for the individual Assisted – another person provides information, guidance, means to end life Involuntary Voluntary 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas III. ADVANCED DIRECTIVES Definition: Legal documents that allow the patient to state the end of life treatments they would or would not want, in the event that they become unable to make those decisions. 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas A. LIVING WILL Definition: Patient’s document that states specific measures to be taken or not taken to prolong life. Examples: Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Hydration Medication 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Issues B. POWER OF ATTORNEY Definition: Document that names the person that will make healthcare decisions for the patient that is unable to do so. 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas IV. ORGAN DONATION Definition: The removal of healthy tissues from one person for the purpose of transplanting them into another person. Donor can be living or recently deceased. The following organs/tissues can be donated/transplanted: Heart Tendons Intestines Corneas Lungs Heart Valves Liver Bone Marrow Pancreas Veins Bones Skin 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas V. RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT Definition: Healthcare research seeks to develop treatments for a disease process, or to establish new knowledge for health and wellness maintenance. Examples: AIDS Stem Cell Cancer Research 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues