DISCUSSION ABOUT ETHICS

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/5 marks)

1. Don has been hired to play the role of Hamlet in the movie he is working on. F

2. The director of the movie production is gay. T

3. Joey’s phone was disconnected because he didn’t pay his bill. F

4. Joey is collecting unemployment insurance. T

5. All the employees except Martin are supporting Joey in his lies. T

PART 3: READING – “LIFE-AND-DEATH DEBATE…” [ 40 marks]

READING QUESTIONS

Questions 1 to 6 are about the first article.

1. What is this text really about? ( /2)

(a) The patient’s right to decide whether or when to receive medical treatment

(b) Who has the right to decide whether medical treatment should be given, refused, or continued

(c) The ethical issues raised by life-prolonging treatment

(d) The costs of life-prolonging treatments to society

Answer: (C)

2. Which of the following is a broad definition of futile treatment? ( /2)

(a) Treatment that will not prolong a patient’s life

(b) Treatment that will harm a patient’s quality of life

(c) Treatment that will not improve the patient’s health or well-being

(d) All of the above

Answer: (C)

3. If a patient cannot decide what’s best for himself or herself, who does? ( /2)

(a) The treating physician

(b) The health-care professionals

(c) The patient’s closest relatives and friends

(d) The individual(s) mandated by the patient to do so

Answer: (d)

4. What happens when patients and families disagree with the doctor’s decision to discontinue a treatment? ( /2)

(a) The doctor’s opinion prevails.

(b) The patient’s wish to live prevails.

(c) A court or its appointee will make that decision.

(d) The hospital has the final decision.

Answer: (c)

5. What is the major difference between the Nancy B. and the Krausz cases? ( /2)

(a) Their respective wishes to die or to continue living

(b) The physician’s interference with their wishes

(c) The hospitalization of one but not of the other

(d) The futility vs. the non-futility of the treatments

Answer: (a)

6. According to this article, should the cost of keeping a patient alive be one of the physician’s concerns? ( /2)

(a) Yes, but only after considering what is in the best interest of the patient.

(b) Yes, but only in cases where the doctor believes the treatment is medically futile.

(c) No, the physician must save or preserve life regardless of the cost.

(d) No, the physician’s obligation is to the patient, not to the health-care system.

Answer: (b)

Questions 7 to 10 are about both articles or the second article only.

7. How is the second article (“N.Z. Court Overrules Parents…”) related to the first one?

( /2)

(a) It confirms what the first article says, i.e., that doctors have the final word when it comes to giving, maintaining, or stopping medical treatment.

(b) It contradicts the opinions stated in the first article.

(c) It gives an illustration of what the medical corps believes is futile treatment as defined in the first article.

(d) It adds to the first article as it shows how important it is for family members to fight for the rights of their loved ones.

Answer: (c)

8. In the second article, which of the following corresponds to the parents’ position regarding their baby? ( /2)

(a) Take our baby off life-support.

(b) Allow us to take our baby home.

(c) Make sure our baby doesn’t suffer.

(d) Keep our baby alive by all means.

Answer: (d)

9. Why is the court involved in the case of Baby L.? ( /2)

(a) The parents and hospital had opposing views about what was best for the baby.

(b) The case was publicized internationally.

(c) The hospital needed an external and objective opinion.

(d) The parents refused treatment for their baby and wanted legal advice and support.

Answer: (a)

10. Which of the following sentences taken from the first article applies BEST to the case described in the second article? ( /2)

(a) “If there is genuine doubt as to the incompetent patient’s prior wishes and conflict between the substitute decision-maker and physician in this respect, the legal presumption in favour of life would govern.”

(b) “The situation is much more complicated when patients demand treatment that a physician refuses because the physician believes the treatment is medically futile or, overall, so seriously