Question 1

Twenty-five years ago,definitions of death centered on:

Accepted Answer

Twenty-five years ago, definitions of death primarily focused on the cessation of breathing and blood pressure, which are traditional indicators of life functions.

Question 2

A young woman was seriously injured in a car accident and now shows no higher cortical brain function.Her parents decide to take her off the life-support machines but are shocked when she continues to breathe on her own.Is the young woman dead?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Germain has signed an advance directive.This means that:

Accepted Answer

An advance directive is a legal document that allows a person to state their wishes about their medical care in the event that they become unable to make decisions for themselves. In this case, Germain has signed an advance directive, which means that he has given his physician permission to disconnect him from life-sustaining equipment if he becomes terminally ill and unable to recover.

Question 4

Defining death as nonfunction of the higher cortex implies that:

Accepted Answer

Defining death as nonfunction of the higher cortex means that a person is no longer able to think, behave, or have feelings. It does not necessarily mean that they have stopped breathing or that there is no electrical activity in lower parts of the brain. Therefore, the best choice is B, which states that human life depends on the abilities to think, behave, and have feelings.

Question 5

Why is it more difficult to determine whether someone is dead now than it was 100 years ago?

Accepted Answer

Advances in medical technology have created differing definitions of death, such as brain death, which involve complex criteria and tests to determine whether someone has truly passed away. This has made it more difficult to determine whether someone is dead compared to 100 years ago when there was a simpler understanding of death.

Question 6

Death occurs neurologically when ________ for a specified period of time.

Accepted Answer

Death occurs neurologically when one's brain shows no electrical activity for a specified period of time.

Question 7

An advance directive/living will must be signed when:

Accepted Answer

An advance directive/living will should be signed when an individual is still able to think clearly and make decisions for themselves. Once an individual becomes unable to make decisions due to illness or injury, it may be too late to make their wishes known. Therefore, it is important to create an advance directive ahead of time, stating how medical decisions should be made if the individual becomes incapacitated. Having medical professionals or a lawyer present is not necessary, but the document should be signed and witnessed according to state laws. Being told that one has a life-threatening condition may prompt an individual to create an advance directive, but it is not a requirement to do so.

Question 8

If the cortical death definition were adopted,then physicians could claim a person is dead when his or her ________ is no longer functioning.

Accepted Answer

The cortical death definition refers to the lack of activity in the higher brain, specifically the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for consciousness and perception. Therefore, if this definition were adopted, physicians could claim a person is dead when their higher brain is no longer functioning.

Question 9

Jack Kevorkian,a Michigan physician,has assisted a number of terminally ill patients to end their lives.After given a series of trials,Dr.Kevorkian was:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 for his role in a patient's death and was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison.

Question 10

Which of the following refers to the right of an individual to determine whether extraordinary means should be used to keep them alive?

Accepted Answer

The right of an individual to determine whether extraordinary means should be used to keep them alive is referred to in a living will or advance directive. A durable power of attorney is a legal document that designates someone to make healthcare decisions on behalf of an individual who is unable to do so. Euthanasia refers to deliberately ending someone's life to relieve suffering, and allowing termination of life-support in the event of brain death is a specific circumstance in which life support is discontinued, rather than a general right of self-determination.

Question 11

Your text reported that active euthanasia is legal in:

Accepted Answer

The text specifically mentions that active euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands and Uruguay.

Question 12

Laws in __________ states (in the United States)accept advance directives/living wills as reflecting an individual's wishes.

Accepted Answer

All 50 states in the United States accept advance directives/living wills as reflecting an individual's wishes.

Question 13

Mieka was in a major car accident and,as a result,cannot live without being hooked up to a respirator.After several months,Mieka's parents decided to have the respirator turned off,and Mieka died two days later.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of passive euthanasia because the respirator was turned off, allowing Mieka to die naturally, rather than actively ending her life. It is not informed euthanasia as it is not mentioned whether Mieka gave any consent to the decision.

Question 14

Levi sustained severe and irreversible brain damage in an auto accident.His wife and his parents decided to remove the life-support system,and Levi subsequently died.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This situation is an example of passive euthanasia, as the decision was made to remove life-support, rather than actively taking action to end Levi's life.

Question 15

In the United States,________ euthanasia is generally more accepted than ________ euthanasia.

Accepted Answer

In the United States, passive euthanasia (i.e. the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment) is generally more accepted than active euthanasia (i.e. the administration of lethal medication). While there is ongoing debate and varying beliefs about end-of-life decision-making, there is a legal and ethical distinction between actively causing death and allowing death to occur naturally. It is important to note that laws and attitudes towards euthanasia vary between states and can be influenced by religious, cultural, and political factors.

Question 16

The ________ portions of the brain often die sooner than the ________ portions.

Accepted Answer

The higher portions of the brain, such as the cerebral cortex, are responsible for more complex functions like language, memory, and decision-making. Therefore, they require more resources and are more susceptible to damage or deterioration. The lower portions of the brain, such as the brainstem, control more basic functions like breathing and heart rate, which are necessary for survival, so they tend to be more resilient.

Question 17

If legal definitions of death were modified to mean death of the higher brain but not necessarily the lower brain,which of the following could become a legal practice?

Accepted Answer

If legal definitions of death were modified to mean death of the higher brain but not necessarily the lower brain, it would mean that patients with no cortical function would be considered legally dead. Therefore, withholding life support to such patients would become a legal practice. However, assisted suicides, mercy-killings, and overdoses of pain medication to comatose patients would still be considered illegal, as they involve actively ending a patient's life, which is not the same as withholding life support from someone who is already legally dead.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about a living will is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A living will can be written by anyone, not just those who are terminally ill.

Question 19

Active euthanasia is a crime in __________ states (in the United States):

Accepted Answer

Active euthanasia is illegal in all 50 states of the United States. However, some states have passed legislation that allows for physician-assisted dying or the use of medication to hasten death under certain circumstances, such as terminal illness. Therefore, active euthanasia is still considered a crime in all 50 states.

Question 20

Damon placed a pillow over his terminally ill wife and smothered her to end her suffering.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Damon's action of smothering his wife is an example of active euthanasia, which involves intentionally taking steps to end a patient's life to relieve their suffering. Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, involves withholding or withdrawing treatment that would prolong the person's life, such as removing a ventilator or feeding tube. Natural euthanasia is not a recognized term in medical ethics and acceptable euthanasia is a subjective term that can vary depending on cultural, legal, and ethical perspectives.

Quiz 17: Culture and Diversity