End-of-Life Decisions & Anatomical Gifts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on end-of-life decisions and anatomical gifts, focusing on legal documents, patient rights, and medical orders.

Healthcare Surrogate

A person chosen to make medical decisions on behalf of a patient.

Durable Power of Attorney

Legal document giving someone authority to make healthcare decisions that remains valid even if the patient becomes incapacitated.

POLST

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, a medical order ensuring a seriously ill patient's wishes are documented and followed.

Right to Die

The ability of a patient to refuse life-sustaining treatment, rooted in patient autonomy.

Advance Directives

Legal documents that state a person's wishes about medical care if they become unable to communicate.

Living Will

A legal document specifying what medical treatments a person does or does not want if terminally ill or incapacitated.

Anatomical Gifts

Donation of organs or tissues after death.

Death with Dignity Acts

Laws allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives through prescribed medication.

Patient Autonomy

The right of patients to make their own medical decisions.

Ethical Aspects of End-of-Life Care

Considerations related to morality and values concerning treatment and decision-making at the end of life.