Consider the above question from:
1.the point of view of your own professional prospective – e.g. nurse, paramedic, physio
2.the perspective of another health care team member- any HCP including a DR
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

1. What are the features of a valid (legal) consent; and how does this relate to an advanced care directive?
Briefly outline what the features of a valid legal consent are – do not list- 2-3 sentences
Review what advanced care directives are?
Consider the following questions:
What is an ACD ?– define it, is it a legal document?
Does an ACD constitute valid legal consent?
Are there any circumstances that this might pose an ethical dilemma for a HCP – (you could possibly use this as an opportunity to include some discussion around an example from your own clinical area and then compare this from another HCP clinical area )
Are there any legal ramifications or considerations a HCP needs to consider?

2. 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?
First part:
•Using frameworks and concepts covered in this unit (international and national) discuss why it is ethical to respect patients choices
•In responding to this also draw on an appropriate ethical theory to explain your reasoning. –
Second part:
?Consider and give an example(s) of when we might not respect a patients wishes? (this is another opportunity to provide a contrast for your own speciality and another HCPs perspective) – What do we call it when we make a decision in the best interests of someone else? You may choose to discuss this here and/or refer to this and use as a link to the next section. (see next slide!)
Can you define it and briefly include this in your discussion around this aspect of the question?

3. Is Paternalism ever ethically justified in the provision of heath care?
?Define paternalism – what is this and when might it be used?
?What sorts of HC situations might justify doing this?
?Discuss this from your own specialty perspective and another HCPs perspective.
?Would it make a difference if there was an ACD in place? Include some discussion around this
?Draw on ethical principles and other theories and HCP professional frameworks to critically analysis this section of the question.

4. 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 professional and ethical frameworks inform HCP ethical decision making?
?How might a HCP advocate for a patients wishes when there is a ACD in place – think laterally – what might happen if the family disagree for example in organ donation?? OR with resuscitation? OR with turning off a life support machine? –
?Include where possible some perspectives for your own clinical area and another HCPs perspective

5. What are the legal and professional frameworks that guide a health care professional’s practice in Australia?
Students are encouraged to embed understandings about legal, professional and ethical frameworks that inform HCP ethical decision making throughout the essay.
Avoid having one paragraph that talks about frameworks on its own. The risk with doing this is that you may inadvertently not apply them appropriately or link them to the rest of your paper. The essay may seem disjointed then.
Remember – some frameworks are both national and international so this means UDHR, Codes of conduct, National law’s and International laws if appropriate to the examples you choose to include. Charters; Ethical theories are also frameworks to help you make a decision!

Introduction 200 words approx.
Clearly state what you are going to discuss and how you plan to discuss it e.g.
This essay will discuss informed consent and the role of a HCP when caring for a patient/client who has an advanced care/health directive in place. The essay will begin by …..it will then……
OR
Start with a definition of a significant term: Paternalism, Informed consent, and then outline what you will discuss
Or similar …
NOTE: in your introduction you need to state what two perspectives you will discuss this essay from- e.g. example a nurse and a doctor or a physiotherapist and a nurse. It is ok to use several perspectives!

The body of your essay will have several paragraph’s amounting to 1,500 words approx.

You will split the word allowance up into paragraphs. Each paragraph may have anywhere between 350-500 words per paragraph approximately. – this depends on what you decide to talk about.

Each paragraph should progressively answer each part of the essay

The essay should flow from one set of ideas to the next and there needs to be a link to the next paragraph.
AVOID SEGMENTING THE ESSAY BY RIGIDLY & NARROWLY ANSWERING EACH DOT POINT AS SET OUT IN THE QUESTION- this will make the essay feel disjointed.