Reference no: EM133663528

Assignment:

Part 1

Question 1: In 2011, a group in San Francisco was successful in getting on the ballot a measure that would outlaw circumcision for any reason. If passed, a person who performed a circumcision could face a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail. Do you think citizens have a right to create such a law? Explain your answer.

Question 2: Billionaire Bill is married to a 25-year-old model. Just after Bill died, his wife requested that an electro-ejaculation procedure be performed so that she could have a child with him. Bill's children go to court asking them to stop the procedure. What are your thoughts? Explain your answer.

Question 3: One of the limitations in Safe Haven laws is how old a child must be in order for the child to be surrendered. Do you think three days is enough or not long enough? Explain your answer.

Question 4: A woman has contracted with a surrogate to carry her and her husband's child. It's not that the woman can't carry the child herself, but that she chooses not to because she doesn't want to have the added weight gain or stretch marks. Do you think that there should be limits to when a surrogate can be used? Explain your answer.

Question 5: Suppose insurance companies have a policy requiring pregnant females to undergo genetic testing. If the probability of a genetic disease has been discovered, the insurance company refuses to pay for any medical treatment regarding that disease if the child is brought to term and delivered. What do you think? Should insurance companies be able to make that determination? Explain your answer.

Part 2

Case Analysis: Fred and Margaret have tried unsuccessfully to have a child, but Margaret was unable to carry a child to term. They decided to hire a surrogate to carry their child. Sally, a 21-year old college student, entered into a surrogacy contract with them

At the time, Sally was dating Chet, with whom she hoped to develop a long-term relationship. When Chet broke up with Sally, she informed him that she was pregnant and the child was his. Chet had no desire to be a father and transferred to another college.

Question 1: During a routine medical exam, it was discovered that the child had Down's Syndrome. Fred and Margaret didn't want to care for a child with Down's Syndrome and under the surrogacy contract opted for an abortion, which Sally, a devout Catholic, refused to consider. If this were brought before the courts, how do you think they might rule? Explain your answer.

Question 2: Let's assume that Sally had the child, but after a couple of days, she realized that it was too much to handle both being a single mom and going to college. She decided to surrender the child under the Safe Haven law. When Chet's family heard about it, they contacted the State and asked to be awarded the child. Do you think that a father of a child should be notified before a mother can leave the child with a Safe Haven? Explain your answer.

Question 3: Now let's assume that Fred and Margaret learned about Chet and decided that they wanted to care for the child. But Sally has changed her mind and wants to keep the child. Using the Best Interest of the Child law as reference, who do you think should be awarded the custody of the child? Explain your answer.

Part 3

What was your reaction to finding that 129 nurses reported that they had participated in some form of active euthanasia? Explain your answer.

Why do you think the surveys were anonymous? Explain your answer.

Part 4

Question 1: Christina is a 57-year-old with multiple medical problems. She received a kidney transplant 4 years ago, but now is in need of a liver. Should she be able to receive a liver before patients who haven't had a transplant yet? Explain your answer.

Question 2: Robert got a job working for a large corporation right out of college. Among his job perks were free legal services. He completed a living will as part of an insurance package, naming his parents as his healthcare proxy. Five years later, he married Phyllis, but never got around to changing his advance directives. After being married for 25 years, Robert is involved in a car accident. His parents and wife disagree on whether life support should be continued. Who do you think the courts will rule in favor of; his wife or his parents? Explain your answer.

Question 3: Some states have established automatic organ donation laws that say all people are organ donors unless they specifically indicate otherwise. What do you think? Explain your answer.

Question 4: Initially hospice organizations were non-profit organizations funded by volunteers. But Medicare started to reimburse for hospice services creating for-profit hospice. What do you think about for-profit end-of-life services? Explain your answer.

Question 5: One of the requirements for Death With Dignity laws is that a person must be a resident of that state for at least 6 months. Why do you think that would be a criterion? Explain your answer.

Part 5

Case Analysis: Robert is a 42-year-old who was diagnosed with HIV several years ago. He has been taking his medication and his viral load is undetectable. Because of the medication he is taking, his kidneys have started to fail. Under normal circumstances he would be placed on the transplant list, but being HIV positive precludes him from doing so.

Question 1: Robert has a friend who is also HIV positive and is willing to donate a kidney. Should the transplant team go ahead with the organ donation? Explain your answer.

Question 2: Without a kidney transplant, Robert's condition has deteriorated and he is currently in the hospital. When you go into Robert's room to give him his medication, he asks you to leave it and says he'll take it later. Do you have any concerns about Robert's request? Explain your answer.

Question 3: Robert slipped into a coma and is now on life support. Robert's partner of 20 years wants to withdraw life support. However, Robert's sister doesn't. Who should be able to decide Robert's course of treatment? Explain your answer.