Legal approch to bioethics Justice in end-of-life cases Essay

Legal approch to bioethics Justice in end-of-life cases - Essay Example Retributive or punitive justice can be understood as a retroactive process that justifies punishment for past injustice or violation(s) of the law (Maiese, 2003). Substantive justice is concerned with enforcing the rights and obligations. Distributive justice is concerned with the fair allocation of rights, duties, benefits and burden among community members(Bernard M Dickens, 1994; Maiese, 2003). Accordingly, this paper demonstrates the application of the justice principle in end-of-life legislations and legal cases. Further, this paper focuses on four cases: brain death concept, the Rasouli case, the Latimer case, and the Carter case. Historically, death has been defined as the cessation of respiration and blood circulation(Dickens, 1985). Yet, the development of mechanical technology to maintain vital function, such as ventilators and machines to assist blood circulation, has posed a new ethical question about the patients with irreversible or otherwise profound neurological damage. The question develops to whether or not these individuals are in fact dead or not Further, one must question whether or not it is ethical to withdraw life support from these patients. As such , the brain death concept was introduced by a Harvard ad hoc committee in 1968("Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Harvard Medical School," 1968). Brain death was recognised as criterion for death in Canadian provincial legislation (B. Dickens, 1985). For example, Ontario’s Trillium Gift of Life Network Act ("Trillium Gift of Life Network Act (R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.20)," 1990)in s.7 (1) states that death should be determined by at lea st two physicians; in accordance with accepted medical practice. Dickens analyzes existing legal approaches in death determination and indicates that the current process embraces what is known as the brain death concept(Dickens, 1985).This approach permits the

Smartphone and Social Media Usage in the Healthcare Profession Research Paper

Smartphone and Social Media Usage in the Healthcare Profession - Research Paper Example As the report declares to put the issue of social media and Smartphone usage into context, it is essential to understand HIPAA requirements on the same. HIPAA privacy rule 164.502 states that a covered entity or any of its associate may not use or disclose cosseted health information, except as permitted or required by sub-article C of 160 of this rule. Sub article C outlines the circumstances under which, a medic or a medical entity can release a patient’s personal information. According to the essay findings the exceptions for disclosure are highly limited to criminal activity on the part of the patient. In essence therefore, social media and Smartphone use by medics seems to read from different pages with HIPAA. While social media is geared towards sharing one’s surrounding environment, HIPAA overrules such disclosure and can lead to serious consequences including license cancellation. From a medic’s perspective, Smartphones and social media can be a great mental relaxation tool, which in turn helps one assist patients better. By nature of their work, healthcare professionals have to work long hours. This causes mental and emotional strain, which if unchecked can lead to reduced concentration, and negative consequences to the patients. With the advent of social media, a medic can now get in touch with family and friends and release some work related steam. A light moment with a friend while on a ten minute break can go a long way in rejuvena ting a medic.