Week 5 - Conscience, End-of-Life Decisions, and Ethical Principles in Nursing Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is therapeutic privilege?
Withholding information from a patient to protect them, used in their best interests and in limited situations only.
Which biomedical principles apply to therapeutic privilege?
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Justice.
What is benevolent deception?
Withholding the truth to avoid harm or at the patient’s request.
What risk is associated with therapeutic privilege?
Paternalism—interfering with a person’s right to autonomy.
What is conscientious objection in nursing?
The right to refuse participation in procedures that violate one’s moral conscience, while ensuring patient safety.
What must nurses do when objecting?
Inform the nurse in charge, arrange alternative care, and document the refusal with reasons.
Why is conscience protected in healthcare?
It supports respect, tolerance, and patient care quality when handled responsibly.
What are common ethical dilemmas in early life care?
- Beliefs about when life begins
- Rights of the foetus
- Termination
- IVF
- Sex selection
- Gene testing
- Cloning.
What is the Principle of Double Effect in early life care?
Acts like early induction are not termination if death is not intended—even if foreseeable.
What is palliative care?
Total care for those with chronic or terminal illness, focusing on comfort, not cure.
What is the principle of the sanctity of life?
Life is sacred regardless of age, status, or condition, but not always required to be prolonged at any cost.
What are the four conditions of the Principle of Double Effect?
- Act must not be morally wrong
- Intention must be good
- Bad effect must not be the means to good
- Good must outweigh the bad
What is the concern about pain medication and death?
The false belief it hastens death may cause under-treatment; specialists agree it rarely causes death when used correctly.
What is euthanasia?
Intentional ending of life to relieve suffering (includes voluntary, passive, and physician-assisted suicide).
What arguments are made against euthanasia?
It undermines sanctity of life, integrity of professionals, trust in healthcare, and the law.
Is stopping futile treatment euthanasia?
No, death results from the illness—not the act of withdrawal.
What is an Advance Care Directive (ACD)?
A legal document expressing future medical preferences, made voluntarily by a competent adult.
What is a Not for Resuscitation (NFR) order?
A medical direction to avoid CPR and aggressive interventions when burdens outweigh benefits.
What should NFR orders include?
- Consent
- Documentation
- Discussion details
- Competence assessment
- Time frame.
