Deck 13: Death and Dying

Question 1

Irreversible coma includes all of the following criteria except

A) unreceptive and unresponsive to painful stimuli.
B) spontaneous movements or breathing.
C) no reflexes, with fixed dilated pupils.
D) lack of eye movement and deep tendon reflexes.

Answer 1

spontaneous movements or breathing.

Question 2

The double-effect doctrine recognizes that an action may have

A) only one consequence: undesired.
B) two consequences, both desired.
C) two consequences, both undesired.
D) two consequences: one desired, one undesired.

Answer 2

two consequences: one desired, one undesired.

Question 3

Withdrawing life-sustaining treatment refers to

A) not starting artificial methods of maintaining life.
B) discontinuing artificial methods of maintaining life.
C) gradually discontinuing feeding.
D) gradually discontinuing ventilation.

Answer 3

discontinuing artificial methods of maintaining life.

Question 4

Justifications for euthanasia include

A) individuals should have the right to determine the outcome of their lives.
B) there is no certainty regarding death.
C) modern technology may find a cure for a terminal disease.
D) there is value and dignity to every human life.

Question 5

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross is known for her study of

A) quality-of-life issues.
B) stages of death and dying.
C) functional living index.
D) hospice care.

Question 6

The focus of hospice care is

A) comfort measures.
B) emotional support.
C) relief from pain.
D) all of the above.

Question 7

The use of Harvard Criteria for declaration of an irreversible coma includes an

A) EKG.
B) EEG.
C) EKG with repeat in 24 hours.
D) EEG with repeat in 24 hours.

Question 8

Discontinuing ventilation support for a patient who is brain dead will result in

A) respiratory death.
B) cardiac death.
C) neurological damage.
D) all of the above.

Question 9

Active euthanasia

A) is illegal.
B) violates the medical profession's ethics.
C) a and b.
D) none of the above.

Question 10

Ethical considerations of the terminally ill patient include

A) withdrawing versus withholding treatment.
B) active euthanasia versus passive euthanasia.
C) ordinary versus extraordinary means.
D) all of the above.

Question 11

Advice regarding the course of action taken for a dying loved one can be given by

A) any healthcare worker.
B) the physician.
C) a nurse.
D) all of the above.

Question 12

Prolonged absence of oxygen can result in

A) neurological damage.
B) brain death.
C) cardiac death.
D) all of the above.

Question 13

According to the brain-oriented death definition, death occurs when

A) there is irreversible cessation of all brain function.
B) the brain stem is the only portion continuing to function.
C) breathing is the only remaining function.
D) heart action is the only remaining function.

Question 14

The intentional killing of the terminally ill person is called

A) passive euthanasia.
B) active euthanasia.
C) ordinary means.
D) b and c.

Question 15

A treatment or procedure that is morally required is considered

A) extraordinary.
B) ordinary.
C) appropriate.
D) b and c.

Question 16

Patients have the legal right to

A) refuse treatment.
B) refuse food.
C) refuse fluids.
D) all of the above.

Question 17

A facility with a homelike atmosphere where terminally ill patients find comfort until death is called a

A) hospital.
B) hostel.
C) hospice.
D) all of the above.

Question 18

Before terminating a life-support system, a physician should

A) ignore the advice of the family.
B) seek an outside medical opinion.
C) seek the advice of a lawyer.
D) talk with the religious counselor.

Question 19

A legal death is a

A) respiratory death.
B) brain death.
C) cardiac death.
D) thermal death.

Question 20

Criteria or standards that assist in the determination of death include

A) a significant drop of body temperature.
B) loss of consciousness.
C) rigor mortis.
D) a and c.

Question 21

A DNR order can be placed on the medical chart of a patient by the

A) physician.
B) nurse.
C) EMT.
D) pharmacist.

Question 22

Viatical settlements allow terminally ill persons to

A) borrow money from a loan company.
B) obtain money from their life insurance policies.
C) obtain money from the federal government for experimental treatments.
D) obtain money through Medicaid without paying taxes.

Question 23

The total care of patients whose disease is no longer responsive to curative therapy is

A) palliative care.
B) preventive care.
C) hospice care.
D) euthanasia.

Question 24

Healthcare facilities, in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding, must ask patients if they have

A) life insurance.
B) health insurance.
C) long-term care insurance.
D) an advance directive.

Question 25

Persons who cannot exercise the fundamental right to self-determination include

A) persons with a head injury who are coherent.
B) persons who suffer irreversible brain damage, such as those with Alzheimer's disease.
C) persons who are unable to provide health insurance.
D) all of the above.