After studying the course materials located on Module 6: Lecture Materials & Resources page, answer the following:
Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA):
How this law was created
Legal definition of death, describe
Define dying within context of faith, basic principle about human life
Bioethical Analysis of Pain Management - Pain Relief
What is the difference between Pain and suffering? Explain
Diagnosis / Prognosis: define both.
Ordinary / Extraordinary means of life support. Explain the bioethical analysis.
Killing or allowing to die? Define both and explain which one is ethically correct and why?
Catholic declaration on life and death; give a summary of this document: https://www.cfocf.org/wp-content/uploads/Combined-Catholic-Declaration-and-Understanding-ENGLISH.pdfLinks to an external site.
What is free and informed consent from the Catholic perspective?
Define Proxi, Surrogate
Explain:
Advance Directives
Living Will
PoA / Durable PoA
DNR
Full Answer Section
Legal definition of death:
The UDDA defines death as the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem.
Describe dying within the context of faith and basic principle about human life:
In many faith traditions, dying is seen as a natural part of life. Death is also seen as a time of transition, as the soul leaves the body and enters the afterlife. Some faith traditions believe that death is a time to be celebrated, as the person is finally free from the suffering of this world. Other faith traditions believe that death is a time of mourning, as the person has left behind their loved ones.
The basic principle about human life is that it is sacred and should be protected. This principle is shared by many faith traditions, as well as by secular ethical systems. The principle of the sanctity of human life is the basis for many laws and regulations that protect human life, such as laws against murder and laws requiring medical care to be provided to all people, regardless of their ability to pay.
Bioethical Analysis of Pain Management - Pain Relief
What is the difference between pain and suffering?
Pain is a physical sensation that is caused by damage to the body. Suffering is the emotional and psychological distress that is caused by pain or other negative experiences. Pain and suffering are often interrelated, but they are not the same thing. A person can experience pain without suffering, and a person can suffer without experiencing pain.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease or condition. Diagnosis is important because it allows healthcare providers to develop a treatment plan for the patient.
Prognosis:
Prognosis is the forecast for the course of a disease or condition. Prognosis is important because it helps patients and their families to make decisions about treatment and care.
Ordinary / Extraordinary means of life support:
Ordinary means of life support are treatments that are commonly used and that are not burdensome to the patient. Extraordinary means of life support are treatments that are not commonly used, that are burdensome to the patient, or that have a slim chance of success.
Bioethical analysis:
The bioethical analysis of ordinary and extraordinary means of life support is complex. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether or not to use extraordinary means of life support. The decision of whether or not to use extraordinary means of life support should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the patient's wishes, the patient's prognosis, and the burden of the treatment on the patient and their family.
Killing or allowing to die?
Killing is the intentional taking of human life. Allowing to die is the decision to not intervene to prevent death.
Which one is ethically correct and why?
The ethical correctness of killing or allowing to die is a complex issue. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The ethical correctness of killing or allowing to die depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
In general, however, most ethical systems would agree that killing is morally wrong. This is because killing violates the principle of the sanctity of human life. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as in cases of self-defense or war.
Allowing to die is generally considered to be more morally acceptable than killing. This is because allowing to die does not violate the principle of the sanctity of human life. However, there are some cases in which allowing to die may be considered to be morally wrong, such as in cases where the patient is suffering and there is a treatment available that could relieve their suffering.
Catholic declaration on life and death:
The Catholic declaration on life and death is a document that was released by the Catholic Church in 2005. The document summarizes the Catholic Church's teachings on life and death.
The document states that human life is sacred and should be protected from the moment of conception until natural death. The document also states that all human beings have a right to life and that this right cannot be taken away by anyone.
The document also discusses the use of extraordinary means of life support. The document states that Catholics are not obliged to use extraordinary means of life support, but that they should weigh the benefits and burdens of treatment before making a decision.
Sample Answer
How this law was created:
The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) was created in 1981 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. The UDDA was created in response to advances in medical technology that allowed for life support to be maintained even after the brain had stopped functioning. The UDDA provides a uniform definition of death that can be used by all states.