identify a case that have attended as a foundation to discuss legal and ethical issues such as;
• when to start or cease cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
• the role of advanced care planning,
• was it safe to leave the person at home,
• what resources and follow-up clinical assessment and care is required,
• assessment and diagnosis might not be as straight forward it first appears,
• AND what this means to your practice.
The ethical principles of justice, autonomy, beneficence (benefit) and non-maleficence (do no harm) are important to maintaining your own professional practice and the dignity and care of those you care for. Managing the emotional and ethical challenges in these types of cases can be difficult and can affect your own wellbeing and practice as a paramedic.
KEY SKILLS
• Critical reflection skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how decisions and actions by health professionals effect the patients dignity, ability to consent to care or express their own wishes and the implications for significant others in that person’s life.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the legal responsibilities involved in palliative, end-of-life and low acuity cases.
• Identify the ethical principles involved in palliative, end-of-life and low acuity cases.
ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION
• Low acuity / Treat – non-transport Decisions
Answer the following questions in relation to the case that you have chosen
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Briefly outline the case that you have chosen.
o Outline the key features of the case in the introduction.
(250 words)
Answer the following questions:
o The following questions target the legal and ethical issues of the case you have outlined and your critical reflection on how the case was managed.
o Support with reference to literature and evidence.
2. Identify and discuss at least two legal considerations in the case.
o Provide reference to legal documents, guidelines or other articles/texts that discuss legal issues in regards to non-transport or end-of-life decisions. (250 words)
3. Identify and discuss at least two ethical considerations in the case
o Provide reference to peer reviewed articles that discuss ethical issues in regards to non-transport,
o Refer to the ethical principles of justice, autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence
(350 words)
4. Reflect on the case and how it was managed. Consider one positive and one negative aspect of the case and provide rationale for why you considered it either a positive or negative experience.
Think about:
o how you felt about what occurred,
o was it managed well and why,
o how could it have been improved,
o was the communication between the paramedics and those involved adequate,
o what resources were available,
o who could have been contacted – included in the decision making
Case Description
1. Briefly outline the case that you have chosen. o Outline the key features of the case in the introduction. o The case is de-identified
Legal Considerations
Describe two legal aspects of the case. In your description make sure you define the legal aspects that you are going to discuss and support your discussion with literature (legal documents, guidelines or other articles/texts that discuss legal issues in regards to non-transport. Link your discussion to the case you have outlined above.
Ethical Considerations
Describe two ethical issues of the case. In your description make sure you define the ethical issues that you are going to discuss and support your discussion with literature (textbook, codes of conduct or other articles/texts that discuss ethical issues in regards to non-transport or end-of-life decisions). Link your discussion to the case you have outlined above. o Provide reference to peer reviewed articles that discuss ethical issues in regards to non-transport, palliative care and end-of-life decisions. o Refer to the ethical principles of justice, autonomy, beneficence (benefit) and non-maleficence (concept of do no harm).
Reflection
4. Reflect on the case and how it was managed. Consider one positive and one negative aspect of the case and provide rationale for why you considered it either a positive or negative experience. Think about: how you felt about what occurred, was it managed well and why, how could it have been improved, was the communication between the paramedics and those involved adequate, what resources were available, who could have been contacted – included in the decision making