1. 1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues of the healthcare professional

2. Divide the students into groups of 3-4. Distribute handout.
Students will brainstorm and record:
what they know and want to know about legal and ethical issues in healthcare.
why this information is important to a healthcare professional

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas Abortion
Termination of a pregnancy
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

8. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas End of life
1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

9. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas 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

10. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas Advanced Directives
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

11. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas Living Will
Patient’s document that states specific measures to be taken or not taken to prolong life.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
Hydration
Medication
1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues

12. Legal and Ethical Issues Power of Attorney
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

13. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas Organ Donation
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

14. Facilitate discussion and have students record their responses to how
a legal right can present an ethical issue.

15. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas Research and Experimental Treatment
Healthcare research seeks to develop treatments for a disease process, or to establish new knowledge for health and wellness maintenance.
AIDS
Stem Cell
Cancer Research
1.04 Understand legal and ethical issues