MEDICAL ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUES

Course overview

There are many aspects to patient care beyond standard medical practice and procedure that are of great significance to healthcare professionals. One of the topics critical to patient care is medical ethics. The American Medical Association AMA implemented the Principles of Medical Ethics as a system of rules to regulate the relationship between a doctor and patients. These ethical guidelines are important not just to doctors but to all members of the healthcare field. This seminar will provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in medical ethics and legal issues involving HIPAA requirements, medical power of attorney, various types of informed consent, and delicate end of life decisions. Given current medical advances, it is possible for people to determine the amount of suffering they must endure before dying. Elderly and terminally ill residents and their family members face many questions concerning the residents right to die with dignity. For this reason, health professionals must have a solid basis of knowledge concerning end of life decisions. These decisions include advance directives, living wills, DNR Do Not Resuscitate orders, and artificial nutrition and hydration, all of which will be addressed in this course.