Bioethical Issues

1
Bioethical Issues

• L. D. Andrews
• NURS 2111 Contemporary Nursing

2
Bioethical Issues

• Safety of genetic research
• supervirus, superbacteria
• legality and morality of genetic screening
• early detection of diseases
• proper use of genetic information
• availability to insurance companies

3
Informed Consent

• beneficence client prepare for future problems
• nonmaleficence insurance comp. refuses coverage
• autonomy do not force clients to participate in
  genetic screening
• confidentiality absolute

4
Right to Self-determination

• Client has right NOT TO KNOW results of genetic
  testing
• Client has right TO REFUSE genetic testing

5
Fetal Tissue

• Human Genome Project
• identify human genetic code
• growing fetal tissue in laboratory for research
• legislation limits fetuses to 6 weeks
• Fetal Tissue
• lacks mature genetic materialless host rejection

6
Fetal Tissue

• Source
• elective abortions
• second-trimester fetuses
• Payment for tissue and organs
• Permission, who gives it?

7
Nursing Responsibilities

• Awareness of abortion issues
• Knowledge of disposal of aborted fetuses
• Knowledge of developing procedures and techniques
  regarding fetal research
• Support legal and ethical efforts to control
  abuses

8
Organ Transplantation

• Donor, Recipient, Society, HC professionals
• Sources
• living related donors
• cadaver donors
• Children as donors
• What age may child give permission?
• May a child refuse?

9
Organ Transplantation Recipient

• Justice
• Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
• list, rank recipients
• criteria for ranking
• Nurses Role
• Asking about organ donation, pg143
• Avoid nonverbal statements of approval or
  disapproval

10
Distributive Justice

• Belief about health care
• life preserved at all costs?
• conservation of resources?
• cost control methods
• who should pay?
• individual responsibilities

11
Right to Die

• What constitutes extraordinary measures?
• Right to Self-determination
• Advanced Directives-Living Will
• specifies which extraordinary procedures,
  surgeries, medications, treatments that may or
  may not be used
• Essential that Clients wishes be followed
• Nursing Role
• Assist client and family to plan ahead
• Clarify terms

12
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

• Passive Euthanasia
• Active Euthanasia
• assisted suicide
• Right to Self-determination
• ANA
• opposes assisted suicide
• violation of Code of Ethics

13
Ethics Involving ChildrenAbuse

• Legal Requirement to report abuse
• beneficence and best interests of the child
• family right to privacy and self-determination
• Nurses Role of Advocate
• Use all available services and resources

14
Ethics Involving ChildrenInformed Consent

• Informed Consent
• give as much information as possible
• recognize rights of children
• Children are Dependents
• do not have right to self-determination
• parents must make decision in childs best
  interests
• At what age can children may decisions?