Deck 15: Medical Ethics Futility

Question 1

A living will is

A) any document that a person autonomously creates while living.
B) a legal document that a person makes to say where their property should go after they die.
C) a legal document that a person makes to say what should be done while they are still alive but unable to make their own treatment choices.
D) a person who may legally say what should be done in place of someone who is unable to decide their own treatment choices.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A medical proxy is

A) any document that a person autonomously creates while living.
B) a legal document that a person makes to say where their property should go after they die.
C) a legal document that a person makes to say what should be done while they are still alive but unable to make their own treatment choices.
D) a person who may legally say what should be done in place of someone who is unable to decide their own treatment choices.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Sometimes the family wants to postpone the patient's death via futile treatment. In this case,

A) the family's interests are morally relevant.
B) the family's interests are not morally relevant.
C) the patient's interests trump all others, regardless of their condition.
D) if the patient cannot say or do anything, then the only important moral interests are those of the family.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Suspending futile treatment

A) can never be morally justified.
B) may be morally obligatory in certain cases.
C) only affects the patient's interests.
D) is morally justified if the resources exist to care for other patients as well.

Question 5

Stakeholders involved in a possible futile treatment can include

A) the patient's family.
B) the patient's medical caregivers and insurers.
C) other patients who need the resources being used by the patient.
D) All of the above

Question 6

Ethics equates suspending futile treatment with

A) abandoning all care for the patient.
B) killing the patient.
C) diminishing the patient's dignity.
D) None of the above

Question 7

The notion of triage

A) refers to the order in which certain family members can manage care for a patient.
B) applies when medical resources are not adequate for all in need.
C) does not view each competing person's interests as equal.
D) is only relevant when the interests of three distinct groups are in conflict.

Question 8

Palliative care refers to treatment that

A) significantly extends life.
B) effectively remedies the patient's condition.
C) supports and relieves the patient's discomfort.
D) is carried out after the patient dies.

Question 9

In considering futile treatment, the effects upon family members

A) can be of some relevance to the overall moral situation.
B) are never morally relevant.
C) become decisive once a patient cannot make her own choices.

Question 10

Triage is used to decide which patient has

A) the funds to pay for continued treatment.
B) the greatest value to society compared to other patients.
C) expressed the strongest desire for help.
D) None of the above

Question 11

When a patient loses capacity, treatment decisions should still be made in their best interests and in keeping with what they would want.

Question 12

Palliative care is not considered futile treatment.

Question 13

Extending futile treatment at the request of a family member for a long time may be to act against the patient's human dignity.

Question 14

In assessing a possibly futile treatment, its "overall benefit" is limited to just its physical benefits for the patient.

Question 15

The right of an autonomous patient to refuse treatment is widely accepted in medical practice and is morally justified.