Question Management

Q Description: This provides an opportunity for students to explore and discuss an ethical issue of contemporary significance. It will require students to read a given scenario and discuss the ethical issue from their own professional perspective and that of another professional perspective. The essay should discussion should include reference to: National and international ethical frameworks; Professional Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct & Position Statements; Relevant Australian State or Federal laws that are applicable to the issue of consent; Ethical dilemmas that the health professional may face in the area of consent of patients/clients/populations in their practice and the health professional's responses and ethical theories and/or principles that underpins practice. Due date: Due 23.59 Friday 16th October

Weighting: 50% Length and/or format: 2000 words +/- 10%

Purpose: To compare and contrast interprofessional approaches to an ethical issues in the practice setting Learning outcomes assessed: 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10

How to submit: Via Turnitin assessment #3 drop box on LEO Return of assignment: Feedback and grades will be returned to students post release of final grades for the unit on student connect. An announcement will be placed on LEO when these results are available for student review.

Assessment criteria: Please review assessment marking criteria over the

HLSC220 Essay Question Semester 2 2015

An Advance Care Directive ('Living Will') is a written statement regarding someone's wishes for their future health care. An Advance Care Directive can be made by anyone who has the capacity to do so. An Advance Care Directive is only used if, at some point in the future, the person becomes incapable of making health care decisions for themselves (due to illness or injury) (Advance Care Directives, 2014).

Health care professionals are required to respect patients choices and gain consent (or, at least, assent) prior to providing treatment or care. They are also required to respect patient confidentiality. Based on what you have learned in this unit discuss the ethical issue of informed consent in relation to the following:

• What are the features of a valid (legal) consent; and how does this relate to an advanced care directive? • Why does it matter ethically speaking that a patient's choice be respected?

• Are there any expectations to the requirement to respect patient's choices? • Is Paternalism ever ethically justified in the provision of heath care?

• What is the role of the HCP in relation to advocacy for a patient's wishes and in particular when an advance care directive is present?

• What are the legal and professional frameworks that guide a health care professional's practice in Australia?

Consider the above question from the point of view of your own professional prospective and from the perspective of another health care team member. Respond to this question by drawing on what you have studied in this unit for example: relevant codes of conduct, ethics and practice and laws, theories, ethical concepts, principles and values.