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End life Decisions
Your manager would like you to create a presentation that provides information on critical components of the end-of-life decision-making process. She wants you to provide information on the Patient Self-Determination Act, state laws that impact end-of-life decisions, advance care planning and directives, and the intersection of medical ethics, religious/cultural beliefs, and regulations in healthcare. Although end-of-life planning is often associated with older adults, she emphasizes that the information applies to all individuals over 18 years of age and wants you to make sure that this is apparent in your presentation. The appropriate use of terms and language as they relate to end-of-life decisions will also be integral to your topic. You may choose either a 10- to 15-slide presentation that includes detailed speaker notes, or a 15-minute video with a transcript. Your manager has provided the following criteria that must be included in your presentation:
Analyze the impact of the Patient Self-Determination Act on the end-of-life decision-making process.
What is it?
Why was it developed? What issues influenced its conception?
How does it impact patient rights?
How does it impact healthcare facilities?
Describe the impact of state law on advance directives and end-of-life decisions.
How do laws vary state by state?
What impact have they had on the “right to die” of an individual?
How have they affected pain management and care (e.g., medical marijuana, palliative care)?
Explain what advance care planning and advance directives are and how they are related.
What documentation is needed as a part of advance planning and directives?
Who is involved in the process (e.g., lawyers, doctors, family, patient)?
What decisions have to be made?
How explicit does planning have to be?
How does age impact planning?
Discuss the implications of missing directives for dying patients.
How are decisions made?
Who is responsible?
How does the facility where treatment is provided impact the level/type of care?
Discuss the intersection between medical ethics, religious/cultural beliefs, and regulations in healthcare as they relate to end-of-life decisions.
What are some similarities and differences in views on dying?
How do ethics, beliefs, and regulations impact recommendations for certain treatments or a course of action/care?
How do they impact funding or coverage of care?
What impact do they have on allowing interventions to begin, removing interventions such as life support, and dealing with the body once someone is dead?
Note: Terms and language appropriate for each topic must be incorporated effectively into the sections of the presentation.