Question 1

The most notorious example of involuntary euthanasia is the medical killing program of the Nazi regime.

Accepted Answer

The medical killing program of the Nazi regime, known as Action T4, targeted people with physical and mental disabilities, as well as elderly people who were deemed "unworthy of life." Tens of thousands of people were killed as part of this program, and it is considered a blatant example of involuntary euthanasia.

Question 2

If you decide to donate your organs after death,you should be sure to discuss this decision with your family.

Accepted Answer

It is important to discuss your decision to donate your organs after death with your family so that they are aware of your wishes and can support them. In some cases, family members may need to make the decision on behalf of the donor if they are unable to do so.

Question 3

If you complete a Uniform Donor Card,your organs will automatically be donated at the time of your death.

Accepted Answer

Completing a Uniform Donor Card does not automatically donate your organs. It simply expresses your willingness to donate and provides documentation for your wishes. Organ donation can only occur with consent from the deceased person's family or legal next of kin.

Question 4

"Double effect" refers to a situation in which a beneficial action may have potentially harmful side effects.

Accepted Answer

"Double effect" is a well-known ethical concept which recognizes that an action can have both good and bad consequences. In medical ethics, the principle of double effect is often invoked to justify certain medical treatments or interventions that may have a potentially harmful side effect. The principle holds that it is ethically permissible to carry out an action that has both a good and a bad effect, as long as the good effect is intended and the bad effect is not the means by which the good effect is achieved.

Question 5

American culture amuses itself with unrealistic portrayals of death.

Accepted Answer

American culture often portrays death in unrealistic or exaggerated ways in media and entertainment, such as in action movies or horror films.

Question 6

The case of Karen Ann Quinlan involved the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.

Accepted Answer

Karen Ann Quinlan was a young woman who had been in a vegetative state for several years. Her family requested that her doctors withdraw life-sustaining treatment, which ultimately led to a court case and a landmark decision in the field of medical ethics.

Question 7

Cremation usually involves a grave dug into the soil or entombment in a mausoleum.

Accepted Answer

Cremation typically does not involve a grave dug into the soil or entombment in a mausoleum. Instead, the remains are typically placed in an urn or scattered in a meaningful location.

Question 8

Palliative care is a form of acute care focused on curative efforts.

Accepted Answer

Palliative care is a form of care that focuses on relieving symptoms and providing support to improve the quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses, rather than on curative efforts.

Question 9

Physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia are the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Physician-assisted suicide involves a doctor providing medication or other means for a terminally ill patient to end their own life. Active euthanasia, on the other hand, involves a doctor directly administering medication or other means to end the patient's life. While both involve a doctor's assistance in ending a patient's life, the methods and actions taken by the doctor differ.

Question 10

Rejection is a possible problem in transplants from deceased organ donors.

Accepted Answer

Since the organ is foreign to the recipient's body, there is a possibility that the recipient's immune system will see the transplant as a threat and attack it, leading to rejection.

Question 11

Living with an illness that is life-threatening and incurable can be termed as a living-dying experience.

Accepted Answer

A living-dying experience is a term used to describe the experience of living with an illness that is life-threatening and incurable. It involves incorporating the fact that one's life will be shortened by the illness while still trying to live as fully as possible. This can lead to a unique set of challenges and emotions for the person living with the illness and their loved ones.

Question 12

A basic task in planning for death is anticipating medical care needs.

Accepted Answer

Anticipating medical care needs is an important part of end-of-life planning. This may involve discussing treatment options with healthcare providers, deciding on a healthcare proxy or power of attorney, and considering palliative or hospice care options.

Question 13

An advance directive should state both what one wants and what one does not want when conveying wishes about medical care.

Accepted Answer

An advance directive should contain both positive and negative instructions regarding medical care, including what treatments the person wants and does not want, in case they become unable to make decisions for themselves.

Question 14

The case of Terri Schiavo in 2003 demonstrated that indicating in writing one's own preferences for life-sustaining treatment in advance of being incapacitated by illness or injury has little value.

Accepted Answer

The case of Terri Schiavo actually demonstrated the importance of having written advance directives, as it was the lack of clear written instructions that led to the legal dispute over her end-of-life care.

Question 15

A testamentary letter is a document that informs a dying person's survivors of various types of important personal information,such as bank accounts,the location of keys,and the names of people who should be notified of the death.

Accepted Answer

A testamentary letter is a document that informs a dying person's survivors of important personal information that will be needed after the person's death.

Question 16

The two forms of advance directives are a living will and a heath care proxy.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. A living will is a legal document where a person specifies the medical treatments they want or do not want if they become unable to make medical decisions for themselves. A health care proxy is also a legal document in which a person appoints someone (proxy) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves.

Question 17

It is mandatory that all corpses be embalmed regardless of the type of disposition to be used.

Accepted Answer

It is not mandatory to embalm all corpses, as some individuals may choose alternative options such as cremation or natural burial which do not require embalming. Embalming is typically only required if the body will be viewed at a funeral service or if there is a delay before the disposition.

Question 18

One goal of hospice care is to counsel family members after a patient's death.

Accepted Answer

Hospice care often includes bereavement counseling for family members following the death of a patient. This counseling can help families process their grief and emotions, and provide support during the mourning process.

Question 19

Another name for a health care proxy for health care is a durable power of attorney.

Accepted Answer

A health care proxy is also known as a durable power of attorney for health care.

Question 20

The practice of withholding treatment that could potentially sustain life is termed active euthanasia.

Accepted Answer

The practice of withholding treatment that could potentially sustain life is termed passive euthanasia, while active euthanasia involves intentionally ending a person's life through administration of drugs or other means.

Quiz 23: Dying and Death