Legal issues of birth and death

Question 1

What is a live birth

Answer 1

When a fetus exits maternal body and shows any sign of life

full term is 38-42 weeks, preterm is before 37 weeks

Question 2

What is a miscarriage

Answer 2

Spontaneous loss of pregancy before 24 weeks gestation

Question 3

What is a stillbirth

Answer 3

Born fter 24 weeks regnancy and did not show any signs of life after complete expulsion

Question 4

What is the legal status of the fetus

Answer 4

Does not acquire any legal rights until it is capable fo surviving independently from its mother. Even refers to right to refuse treatment

Question 5

How must a birth be registered

Answer 5

Within 42 days, if parents are in a civil partnership at time of birth/conception, either mother or father can register on their own

Question 6

What is parental responsibility

Answer 6

all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authorities which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property

Includes informed consent from one parent

Question 7

Who has parental responsibility?

Answer 7

Birth mothers, and father married to mother at time of birth.

Question 8

Who can gain parental responsibility at a later stage

Answer 8

Unmarried fathers, adoptive parents

Question 9

Who in particular do not have parental responsibility

Answer 9

Foster parents, staff from childrens residential establishments

Question 10

Are surragocy arrrangements legally enforcements

Answer 10

no

Question 11

Who has parental responsibility during surrogacy

Answer 11

Legal mother of the child unless parenthood is transferred to intended parents. Husband of surrogate also has PR.

Question 12

How can partners gain PR if not genetically related to thechild

Answer 12

adoption - Parental order cannot be obtained

Question 13

What is euthanasia

Answer 13

a gentle and easy death; …the action of bringing about such a death, esp. of a person who requests it as a release from incurable disease.

Question 14

Are all forms of euthanasia seen as murder by the law

Answer 14

yes

Question 15

What is suicide

Answer 15

The act of intentionally ending ones life

Question 16

Is suicide an offence

Answer 16

no but encouraging it is

Question 17

WHat is death

Answer 17

the irreversible loss of the capacity for consciousness, combined with the irreversible loss of the capacity to breathe’.

Question 18

What is brainstem death

Answer 18

the irreversible cessation of the integrative function of the brain stem equates with death….and allows the medical practitioner to diagnose death

Question 19

Why are post mortems done

Answer 19

Coroner to find cause of death, or hospital/family agree for medical science

Question 20

What is a medical certificate of cause of death

Answer 20

Document enabling death registration, explanation, and informs research

Question 21

Who certifies death

Answer 21

Dr who last attended patient (within 14 days), caring during illness, must be familiar. If not for any, must be referred to coroner

Question 22

What must be avoided on a cause of death certificate

Answer 22

“old age”, “natural causes”, “organ failure” on their own, or other vague terms

Question 23

WHen does a coroner get involved?

Answer 23

Unknown identity, no attending doctor to complete MCCD, violece/trauma/injury, self harm, neglect, medical treatment, employment related injury, poisoning, toxic substances

Death in custody, suicide, medicinal products including psychoacitve. Unnatural deahts

Question 24

Name some non-violent unnatural deahts

Answer 24

medical treatment, employment and asbestosis

Question 25

WHat is a coroners inquest hearing

Answer 25

Where it is announced who deceased was, how, when and where they died, and other particulars

Question 26

What verdicts can coroners come to

Answer 26

Natural causes, accident, killed himself etc, or open verdict